diff --git a/gramps/gen/utils/grampslocale.py b/gramps/gen/utils/grampslocale.py
index 8469cff8a..42995ba96 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/utils/grampslocale.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/utils/grampslocale.py
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ class GrampsLocale(object):
         # _init_secondary_locale if this comes up empty.
         if localedir and os.path.exists(os.path.abspath(localedir)):
             self.localedir = localedir
-        elif (_first and hasattr(_first, 'localedir') and
+        elif (_first and hasattr(_first, 'localedir') and _first.localedir and
               os.path.exists(os.path.abspath(_first.localedir))):
             self.localedir = _first.localedir
         else: