diff --git a/src/bitmessageqt/__init__.py b/src/bitmessageqt/__init__.py
index 38ef97b0..27abc552 100644
--- a/src/bitmessageqt/__init__.py
+++ b/src/bitmessageqt/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+try:
+    import locale
+except:
+    pass
 
 try:
     from PyQt4.QtCore import *