diff --git a/xmodule/video_block/transcripts_utils.py b/xmodule/video_block/transcripts_utils.py
index 417c78cc3489..e41f925295f0 100644
--- a/xmodule/video_block/transcripts_utils.py
+++ b/xmodule/video_block/transcripts_utils.py
@@ -866,11 +866,12 @@ def get_default_transcript_language(self, transcripts, dest_lang=None):
         """
         sub, other_lang = transcripts["sub"], transcripts["transcripts"]
 
-        if dest_lang:
-            if dest_lang in other_lang.keys():
-                transcript_language = dest_lang
-            elif dest_lang == 'en' and (not other_lang or (other_lang and sub)):
-                transcript_language = 'en'
+        # language in plugin selector exists as transcript
+        if dest_lang and dest_lang in other_lang.keys():
+            transcript_language = dest_lang
+        # language in plugin selector is english and empty transcripts or transcripts and sub exists
+        elif dest_lang and dest_lang == 'en' and (not other_lang or (other_lang and sub)):
+            transcript_language = 'en'
         elif self.transcript_language in other_lang:
             transcript_language = self.transcript_language
         elif sub: