diff --git a/sudo.c b/sudo.c
index f1ce9b376..37989650f 100644
--- a/sudo.c
+++ b/sudo.c
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ main(argc, argv)
 #endif
 
 #ifdef HAVE_SETLOCALE
-    setlocale(LC_ALL, "C");
+    setlocale(LC_ALL, "");
 #endif
 
     Argv = argv;