diff --git a/src/main/java/com/gmail/nossr50/config/MainConfig.java b/src/main/java/com/gmail/nossr50/config/MainConfig.java
index 1ee3a490f..a05efbc18 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/gmail/nossr50/config/MainConfig.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/gmail/nossr50/config/MainConfig.java
@@ -454,7 +454,10 @@ public class MainConfig extends ConfigValidated {
     }
 
     public String getLocale() {
-        return getStringValue(GENERAL, LOCALE, EN_US);
+        if(hasNode(GENERAL, LOCALE))
+            return getStringValue(GENERAL, LOCALE);
+        else
+            return "en_US";
     }
 
     public boolean getMOTDEnabled() {