diff --git a/linkcheck/ftests/__init__.py b/linkcheck/ftests/__init__.py
index efd59cd0..be7a64f6 100644
--- a/linkcheck/ftests/__init__.py
+++ b/linkcheck/ftests/__init__.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import unittest
 import difflib
 
 import linkcheck
+linkcheck.init_i18n()
 import linkcheck.checker
 import linkcheck.checker.cache
 import linkcheck.checker.consumer