[otrs] Priority on customer or agent replies - default to current priority level

Using V2.3 I have found that if a response is sent to a customer, on the reply screen the 'Priority' dropdown is set to the top priority in the list regardless of the original/current priority. The problem with this is that if a customer neglects to change the priority back to what the original priority level was, the priority for the whole ticket is changed. In our case it changes to "No response required" as that is at the top of the list. Is there a way to default the priority to whatever its current priority level is? That way it should only change if a customer or agent has forcibly done so. Thanks and regards J