diff --git a/src/characters.c b/src/characters.c
index 9329e6f6..d239cff7 100644
--- a/src/characters.c
+++ b/src/characters.c
@@ -58,6 +58,12 @@ static bool read_vowel_rules(char *const lang) {
     gregorio_kpse_find_or_else(filenames, VOWEL_FILE, return false);
 
     gregorio_vowel_tables_init();
+    /* first check to see if the language is Latin */
+    bool is_latin = (strcasecmp(language, "latin") == 0 ||
+                     strcasecmp(language, "la") == 0 ||
+                     strcasecmp(language, "lat") == 0) ;
+    /* To allow for users to use customize their own Latin rules, we always
+     * look for the requested language in the vowel files */
     /* only need to try twice; if it's not resolved by then, there is an alias
      * loop */
     for (tries = 0; tries < 2; ++tries) {
@@ -85,8 +91,23 @@ static bool read_vowel_rules(char *const lang) {
             break;
         }
     }
-    if ((strcmp(language, "Latin") == 0 || strcmp(language, "latin") == 0 || strcmp(language, "la") == 0 || strcmp(language, "lat") == 0) && status == RFPS_NOT_FOUND) {
-        gregorio_messagef("read_rules", VERBOSITY_INFO, 0, "Falling back on internal Latin vowel rules");
+    if (status == RFPS_NOT_FOUND) {
+        if (is_latin) {
+            gregorio_messagef(
+                "read_rules",
+                VERBOSITY_INFO,
+                0,
+                "Using default Latin vowel rules"
+            );
+        } else {
+            gregorio_messagef(
+                "read_rules",
+                VERBOSITY_WARNING,
+                0,
+                "Selecting Latin instead of %s",
+                language
+            );
+        }
     }
     if (status == RFPS_ALIASED) {
         gregorio_messagef("read_rules", VERBOSITY_WARNING, 0,
@@ -108,7 +129,9 @@ static bool read_vowel_rules(char *const lang) {
 void gregorio_set_centering_language(char *const language)
 {
     if (!read_vowel_rules(language)) {
-        if (strcmp(language, "Latin") != 0 && strcmp(language, "latin") != 0 && strcmp(language, "la") != 0 && strcmp(language, "lat") != 0) {
+        if ((strcasecmp(language, "latin") != 0 ||
+             strcasecmp(language, "la") != 0 ||
+             strcasecmp(language, "lat") != 0) {
             gregorio_messagef("gregorio_set_centering_language",
                     VERBOSITY_WARNING, 0, _("unable to read vowel files for "
                         "%s; defaulting to Latin vowel rules"), language);