diff --git a/guix-build.in b/guix-build.in
index 4d3db0aa6d..eb8d2fa016 100644
--- a/guix-build.in
+++ b/guix-build.in
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ Build the given PACKAGE-OR-DERIVATION and return their output paths.\n"))
                     name version)
              (leave (_ "~A: unknown package~%") name))))))
 
-  (setlocale LC_ALL "")
+  (install-locale)
   (textdomain "guix")
   (setvbuf (current-output-port) _IOLBF)
   (setvbuf (current-error-port) _IOLBF)
diff --git a/guix-download.in b/guix-download.in
index f8859618d7..4b814699ca 100644
--- a/guix-download.in
+++ b/guix-download.in
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ and the hash of its contents.\n"))
                  (alist-cons 'argument arg result))
                %default-options))
 
-  (setlocale LC_ALL "")
+  (install-locale)
   (textdomain "guix")
   (setvbuf (current-output-port) _IOLBF)
   (setvbuf (current-error-port) _IOLBF)
diff --git a/guix-gc.in b/guix-gc.in
index ab7ce3214f..1a4a5413d9 100644
--- a/guix-gc.in
+++ b/guix-gc.in
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ interpreted."
                  (alist-cons 'argument arg result))
                %default-options))
 
-  (setlocale LC_ALL "")
+  (install-locale)
   (textdomain "guix")
   (setvbuf (current-output-port) _IOLBF)
   (setvbuf (current-error-port) _IOLBF)
diff --git a/guix-import.in b/guix-import.in
index af5c5897e0..97619a9a59 100644
--- a/guix-import.in
+++ b/guix-import.in
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ Import and convert the Nix expression ATTRIBUTE of NIXPKGS.\n"))
                  (alist-cons 'argument arg result))
                %default-options))
 
-  (setlocale LC_ALL "")
+  (install-locale)
   (textdomain "guix")
   (setvbuf (current-output-port) _IOLBF)
   (setvbuf (current-error-port) _IOLBF)
diff --git a/guix-package.in b/guix-package.in
index 913872c925..ab0191faa2 100644
--- a/guix-package.in
+++ b/guix-package.in
@@ -598,7 +598,7 @@ Install, remove, or upgrade PACKAGES in a single transaction.\n"))
            #t))
         (_ #f))))
 
-  (setlocale LC_ALL "")
+  (install-locale)
   (textdomain "guix")
   (setvbuf (current-output-port) _IOLBF)
   (setvbuf (current-error-port) _IOLBF)
diff --git a/guix/ui.scm b/guix/ui.scm
index 761b1ce444..3ec7be771b 100644
--- a/guix/ui.scm
+++ b/guix/ui.scm
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ (define-module (guix ui)
   #:use-module (ice-9 match)
   #:export (_
             N_
+            install-locale
             leave
             show-version-and-exit
             show-bug-report-information
@@ -45,6 +46,16 @@ (define %gettext-domain
 (define _ (cut gettext <> %gettext-domain))
 (define N_ (cut ngettext <> <> <> %gettext-domain))
 
+(define (install-locale)
+  "Install the current locale settings."
+  (catch 'system-error
+    (lambda _
+      (setlocale LC_ALL ""))
+    (lambda args
+      (format (current-error-port)
+              (_ "warning: failed to install locale: ~a~%")
+              (strerror (system-error-errno args))))))
+
 (define-syntax-rule (leave fmt args ...)
   "Format FMT and ARGS to the error port and exit."
   (begin