diff --git a/packages/yasgui/src/PersistentConfig.ts b/packages/yasgui/src/PersistentConfig.ts
index 20f3917f..d62fb797 100644
--- a/packages/yasgui/src/PersistentConfig.ts
+++ b/packages/yasgui/src/PersistentConfig.ts
@@ -312,6 +312,22 @@ export default class PersistentConfig {
     this.toStorage();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Get the persisted layout orientation
+   */
+public getOrientation(): "vertical" | "horizontal" | undefined {
+  const orientation = this.persistedJson.orientation;
+  return orientation === "vertical" || orientation === "horizontal" ? orientation : undefined;
+}
+
+  /**
+   * Set and persist the layout orientation
+   */
+  public setOrientation(orientation: "vertical" | "horizontal") {
+    this.persistedJson.orientation = orientation;
+    this.toStorage();
+  }
+
   /**
    * Get list of disabled developer-configured endpoint buttons
    */
diff --git a/packages/yasgui/src/Tab.ts b/packages/yasgui/src/Tab.ts
index 363b3d22..7de2d106 100644
--- a/packages/yasgui/src/Tab.ts
+++ b/packages/yasgui/src/Tab.ts
@@ -621,6 +621,9 @@ export class Tab extends EventEmitter {
     // Update global config
     this.yasgui.config.orientation = newOrientation;
 
+    // Persist orientation
+    this.yasgui.persistentConfig.setOrientation(newOrientation);
+
     // Apply to all tabs
     for (const tabId in this.yasgui._tabs) {
       const tab = this.yasgui._tabs[tabId];
diff --git a/packages/yasgui/src/index.ts b/packages/yasgui/src/index.ts
index 99f820a1..08b0ef32 100644
--- a/packages/yasgui/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/yasgui/src/index.ts
@@ -186,6 +186,12 @@ export class Yasgui extends EventEmitter {
       this.config.showSnippetsBar = persistedShowSnippetsBar;
     }
 
+    // Load persisted orientation if available
+    const persistedOrientation = this.persistentConfig.getOrientation();
+    if (persistedOrientation !== undefined) {
+      this.config.orientation = persistedOrientation;
+    }
+
     this.tabElements = new TabElements(this);
     this.tabPanelsEl = document.createElement("div");