diff --git a/lisp/init-dictionary.el b/lisp/init-dictionary.el
index 75ac6337c..c2a8295d1 100644
--- a/lisp/init-dictionary.el
+++ b/lisp/init-dictionary.el
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
     (when def
       (setq buf (get-buffer-create my-dict-buffer-name))
         (with-current-buffer buf
+          (special-mode)
           (setq buffer-read-only nil)
           (erase-buffer)
           (insert def)