diff --git a/locale/locale.js b/locale/locale.js
index 123e08b93..9e4786059 100644
--- a/locale/locale.js
+++ b/locale/locale.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-var locale = {};
+var locale = { current: 'en' };
 
 function t(s, o) {
     if (locale[locale.current][s] !== undefined) {
diff --git a/test/index.html b/test/index.html
index 12cf31886..f945a536d 100644
--- a/test/index.html
+++ b/test/index.html
@@ -119,6 +119,9 @@
 
     <script src='../js/id/connection.js'></script>
 
+    <script src='../locale/locale.js'></script>
+    <script src='../locale/en.js'></script>
+
     <script>
         iD.debug = true;
         mocha.setup({