diff --git a/app/controllers/application_controller.rb b/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
index 354fcc7c0..15b98e0a8 100644
--- a/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
       # check if the user has been banned
       if @user.blocks.active.exists?
         # NOTE: need slightly more helpful message than this.
+        set_locale
         report_error t("application.setup_user_auth.blocked"), :forbidden
       end