diff --git a/docs/modeltranslation/installation.rst b/docs/modeltranslation/installation.rst
index da56a3a..22539d0 100644
--- a/docs/modeltranslation/installation.rst
+++ b/docs/modeltranslation/installation.rst
@@ -377,17 +377,3 @@ Default: ``True``
 .. versionadded:: 0.6
 
 Control if :ref:`fallback <fallback>` (both language and value) will occur.
-
-
-.. _settings-modeltranslation_loaddata_retain_locale:
-
-``MODELTRANSLATION_LOADDATA_RETAIN_LOCALE``
-^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
-
-Default: ``True``
-
-.. versionadded:: 0.7
-
-Control if the ``loaddata`` command should leave the settings-defined locale alone. Setting it
-to ``False`` will result in previous behaviour of ``loaddata``: inserting fixtures to database
-under ``en-us`` locale.
diff --git a/modeltranslation/management/commands/loaddata.py b/modeltranslation/management/commands/loaddata.py
index 0001edf..a0dddf5 100644
--- a/modeltranslation/management/commands/loaddata.py
+++ b/modeltranslation/management/commands/loaddata.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-from django import VERSION
+import argparse
+
 from django.core.management.commands.loaddata import Command as LoadDataCommand
 
 # Because this command is used (instead of default loaddata), then settings have been imported
@@ -6,7 +7,6 @@ from django.core.management.commands.loaddata import Command as LoadDataCommand
 from modeltranslation import settings as mt_settings
 from modeltranslation.utils import auto_populate
 
-
 ALLOWED = (None, False, 'all', 'default', 'required')
 ALLOWED_FOR_PRINT = ', '.join(str(i) for i in (0,) + ALLOWED[1:])  # For pretty-printing
 
@@ -22,55 +22,25 @@ def check_mode(option, opt_str, value, parser, namespace=None):
 class Command(LoadDataCommand):
     leave_locale_alone = mt_settings.LOADDATA_RETAIN_LOCALE  # Django 1.6
 
-    help = (
-        'Using this option will cause fixtures to be loaded under auto-population MODE.'
-        + 'Allowed values are: %s' % ALLOWED_FOR_PRINT
-    )
-    if VERSION < (1, 8):
-        from optparse import make_option
+    class CheckAction(argparse.Action):
+        def __call__(self, parser, namespace, value, option_string=None):
+            check_mode(self, option_string, value, parser, namespace)
 
-        option_list = LoadDataCommand.option_list + (
-            make_option(
-                '--populate',
-                action='callback',
-                callback=check_mode,
-                type='string',
-                dest='populate',
-                metavar='MODE',
-                help=help,
+    def add_arguments(self, parser):
+        super(Command, self).add_arguments(parser)
+        parser.add_argument(
+            '--populate',
+            action=self.CheckAction,
+            type=str,
+            dest='populate',
+            metavar='MODE',
+            help=(
+                'Using this option will cause fixtures to be loaded under auto-population MODE. '
+                + 'Allowed values are: %s' % ALLOWED_FOR_PRINT
             ),
         )
-    else:
-        import argparse
-
-        class CheckAction(argparse.Action):
-            def __call__(self, parser, namespace, value, option_string=None):
-                check_mode(self, option_string, value, parser, namespace)
-
-        def add_arguments(self, parser):
-            super(Command, self).add_arguments(parser)
-            parser.add_argument(
-                '--populate',
-                action=self.CheckAction,
-                type=str,
-                dest='populate',
-                metavar='MODE',
-                help=self.help,
-            )
-
-    def __init__(self):
-        super(Command, self).__init__()
-        if mt_settings.LOADDATA_RETAIN_LOCALE and VERSION < (1, 6):
-            from django.utils import translation
-
-            self.locale = translation.get_language()
 
     def handle(self, *fixture_labels, **options):
-        if hasattr(self, 'locale'):
-            from django.utils import translation
-
-            translation.activate(self.locale)
-
         mode = options.get('populate')
         if mode is not None:
             with auto_populate(mode):