diff --git a/spine-unity/Assets/Spine/Editor/spine-unity/Editor/Utility/SpineEditorUtilities.cs b/spine-unity/Assets/Spine/Editor/spine-unity/Editor/Utility/SpineEditorUtilities.cs
index 5f7cac9e4..de571cb48 100644
--- a/spine-unity/Assets/Spine/Editor/spine-unity/Editor/Utility/SpineEditorUtilities.cs
+++ b/spine-unity/Assets/Spine/Editor/spine-unity/Editor/Utility/SpineEditorUtilities.cs
@@ -94,14 +94,16 @@ namespace Spine.Unity.Editor {
 		}
 
 		static void Initialize () {
-			if (EditorApplication.isPlayingOrWillChangePlaymode) return;
-
+			// Note: Preferences need to be loaded when changing play mode
+			// to initialize handle scale correctly.
 			#if !NEW_PREFERENCES_SETTINGS_PROVIDER
 			Preferences.Load();
 			#else
 			SpinePreferences.Load();
 			#endif
 
+			if (EditorApplication.isPlayingOrWillChangePlaymode) return;
+
 			string[] assets = AssetDatabase.FindAssets("t:script SpineEditorUtilities");
 			string assetPath = AssetDatabase.GUIDToAssetPath(assets[0]);
 			editorPath = Path.GetDirectoryName(assetPath).Replace("\\", "/");