diff --git a/ui/index.js b/ui/index.js
index fe57f791a..1e0e9f1cc 100644
--- a/ui/index.js
+++ b/ui/index.js
@@ -30,7 +30,9 @@ async function startApp (metamaskState, accountManager, opts) {
   // parse opts
   if (!metamaskState.featureFlags) metamaskState.featureFlags = {}
 
-  const currentLocaleMessages = await fetchLocale(metamaskState.currentLocale)
+  const currentLocaleMessages = metamaskState.currentLocale
+    ? await fetchLocale(metamaskState.currentLocale)
+    : {}
   const enLocaleMessages = await fetchLocale('en')
 
   const store = configureStore({