diff --git a/src/bitmessageqt/__init__.py b/src/bitmessageqt/__init__.py
index cb3b5e75..cac530fc 100644
--- a/src/bitmessageqt/__init__.py
+++ b/src/bitmessageqt/__init__.py
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ from about import *
 from help import *
 from iconglossary import *
 from connect import *
+import locale as pythonlocale
 import sys
 from time import strftime, localtime, gmtime
 import time
@@ -99,6 +100,17 @@ def change_translation(locale):
     qsystranslator.load(translationpath)
     QtGui.QApplication.installTranslator(qsystranslator)
 
+    lang = l10n.getTranslationLanguage()
+    if "_" not in lang:
+        lang += "_" + lang.upper()
+    if ".utf8" not in lang.lower():
+        lang += ".utf8"
+    try:
+        pythonlocale.setlocale(pythonlocale.LC_ALL, lang)
+    except:
+        logger.error("Failed to set locale to %s", lang)
+        pass
+
 class MyForm(settingsmixin.SMainWindow):
 
     # sound type constants