diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Translation/Translator.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Translation/Translator.php
index 75ac17c788032..f3d8d620edbc6 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Translation/Translator.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Translation/Translator.php
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ public function setLocale($locale)
         }
 
         $this->assertValidLocale($locale);
-        $this->locale = $locale;
+        $this->locale = $locale ?? (class_exists(\Locale::class) ? \Locale::getDefault() : 'en');
     }
 
     /**
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ public function setLocale($locale)
      */
     public function getLocale()
     {
-        return $this->locale ?? \Locale::getDefault();
+        return $this->locale;
     }
 
     /**