diff -up wxMaxima-0.8.2/src/MathCtrl.cpp.ltr_layout wxMaxima-0.8.2/src/MathCtrl.cpp
--- wxMaxima-0.8.2/src/MathCtrl.cpp.ltr_layout	2009-04-15 07:56:26.000000000 -0500
+++ wxMaxima-0.8.2/src/MathCtrl.cpp	2009-07-18 15:35:58.013133569 -0500
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ MathCtrl::MathCtrl(wxWindow* parent, int
   m_saved = true;
   m_evaluationQueue = new EvaluationQueue();
   AdjustSize();
+  // hack to workaround problems in RtL locales, http://bugzilla.redhat.com/455863
+  SetLayoutDirection(wxLayout_LeftToRight);
 }
 
 MathCtrl::~MathCtrl() {