diff --git a/syncplay/constants.py b/syncplay/constants.py
index 0db2e43..b06ecde 100644
--- a/syncplay/constants.py
+++ b/syncplay/constants.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ SHOW_CONTACT_INFO = True  # Displays dev contact details below list in GUI
 SHOW_BUTTON_LABELS = True  # If disabled, only shows icons for main GUI buttons
 SHOW_TOOLTIPS = True
 WARN_ABOUT_MISSING_STRINGS = False # (If debug mode is enabled)
+FALLBACK_INITIAL_LANGUAGE = "en"
 
 #Overriden by config
 SHOW_OSD = True  # Sends Syncplay messages to media player OSD
diff --git a/syncplay/messages.py b/syncplay/messages.py
index a862f13..8aaa354 100755
--- a/syncplay/messages.py
+++ b/syncplay/messages.py
@@ -1002,9 +1002,9 @@ def getInitialLanguage():
         systemLocale = locale.getdefaultlocale("language")[0]
         initialLanguage = systemLocale.split("_")[0]
         if not messages.has_key(systemLocale):
-            initialLanguage = "en"
+            initialLanguage = constants.FALLBACK_INITIAL_LANGUAGE
     except:
-        initialLanguage = "en"
+        initialLanguage = constants.FALLBACK_INITIAL_LANGUAGE
     return initialLanguage
 
 def getMessage(type_, locale=None):