--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -98,6 +98,16 @@
 #ifndef GUI
 int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 {
+    #ifndef WIN32
+    try
+    {
+        boost::filesystem::path::codecvt(); // Raises runtime error if current locale is invalid
+    } catch(std::runtime_error &e)
+    {
+        setenv("LC_ALL", "C", 1); // Force C locale
+    }
+    #endif
+
     bool fRet = false;
     fRet = AppInit(argc, argv);
 
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
@@ -122,6 +122,16 @@
 #ifndef BITCOIN_QT_TEST
 int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
+    #ifndef WIN32
+    try
+    {
+        boost::filesystem::path::codecvt(); // Raises runtime error if current locale is invalid
+    } catch(std::runtime_error &e)
+    {
+        setenv("LC_ALL", "C", 1); // Force C locale
+    }
+    #endif
+
     // Command-line options take precedence:
     ParseParameters(argc, argv);