Index: trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/SplitWayAction.java
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/SplitWayAction.java	(revision 8987)
+++ trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/SplitWayAction.java	(revision 8988)
@@ -222,4 +222,5 @@
         final JList<Way> list;
         final List<OsmPrimitive> selection;
+        final Way wayToKeep;
 
         SegmentToKeepSelectionDialog(Way selectedWay, List<Way> newWays, Way wayToKeep, List<OsmPrimitive> selection) {
@@ -230,6 +231,7 @@
             this.newWays = newWays;
             this.selection = selection;
+            this.wayToKeep = wayToKeep;
             this.list = new JList<>(newWays.toArray(new Way[newWays.size()]));
-            this.list.setSelectedValue(wayToKeep, true);
+            configureList();
 
             setButtonIcons(new String[]{"ok", "cancel"});
@@ -282,6 +284,5 @@
             super.setVisible(visible);
             if (visible) {
-                configureList(); // not in constructor to not highlight segments unless dialog is shown
-                list.setSelectedIndex(list.getSelectedIndex()); // highlight way segments
+                list.setSelectedValue(wayToKeep, true);
             } else {
                 setHighlightedWaySegments(Collections.<WaySegment>emptyList());