diff --git a/gramps/gen/utils/grampslocale.py b/gramps/gen/utils/grampslocale.py
index 65ef47b98..59f3ac46d 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/utils/grampslocale.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/utils/grampslocale.py
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ 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 _first.localedir:
+        elif _first and hasattr(_first, 'localedir'):
             self.localedir = _first.localedir
         else:
             self.localedir = None