diff --git a/helpdesk/lib.py b/helpdesk/lib.py
index c307b3dc..04e6d873 100644
--- a/helpdesk/lib.py
+++ b/helpdesk/lib.py
@@ -56,9 +56,11 @@ def send_templated_mail(template_name, email_context, recipients, sender=None, b
     context = Context(email_context)
     locale = 'en';
     if hasattr(context['queue'], 'locale'):
-        locale = getattr(context['queue'], 'locale', 'en')
+        locale = getattr(context['queue'], 'locale', '')
     else:
         locale = context['queue'].get('locale', 'en')
+    if not locale:
+        locale = 'en'
 
     t = None
     try: