Index: /applications/editors/josm/plugins/livegps/src/livegps/LiveGpsAcquirer.java
===================================================================
--- /applications/editors/josm/plugins/livegps/src/livegps/LiveGpsAcquirer.java	(revision 19011)
+++ /applications/editors/josm/plugins/livegps/src/livegps/LiveGpsAcquirer.java	(revision 19012)
@@ -20,10 +20,23 @@
 	BufferedReader gpsdReader;
 	boolean connected = false;
-	String gpsdHost = Main.pref.get("livegps.gpsd.host", "localhost");
-	int gpsdPort = Main.pref.getInteger("livegps.gpsd.port", 2947);
+	String gpsdHost;
+	int gpsdPort;
 	boolean shutdownFlag = false;
 	private final List<PropertyChangeListener> propertyChangeListener = new ArrayList<PropertyChangeListener>();
 	private PropertyChangeEvent lastStatusEvent;
 	private PropertyChangeEvent lastDataEvent;
+
+	/**
+	 * Constructor, initializes the configurable settings. 
+	 */
+	public LiveGpsAcquirer() {
+		super();
+
+		gpsdHost = Main.pref.get("livegps.gpsd.host", "localhost");
+		gpsdPort = Main.pref.getInteger("livegps.gpsd.port", 2947);
+		// put the settings back in to the preferences, makes keys appear.
+		Main.pref.put("livegps.gpsd.host", gpsdHost);
+		Main.pref.putInteger("livegps.gpsd.port", gpsdPort);
+	}
 
 	/**