diff --git a/src/middleware/middleware.js b/src/middleware/middleware.js
index 6bab0678e6..e4e5ebbc6f 100644
--- a/src/middleware/middleware.js
+++ b/src/middleware/middleware.js
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ middleware.renderHeader = function(req, res, callback) {
 		templateValues.customCSS = results.customCSS;
 		templateValues.customJS = results.customJS;
 		templateValues.maintenanceHeader = parseInt(meta.config.maintenanceMode, 10) === 1 && !results.isAdmin;
-		templateValues.defaultLang = res.locals.config.defaultLang;
+		templateValues.defaultLang = meta.config.defaultLang || 'en_GB';
 
 		templateValues.template = {name: res.locals.template};
 		templateValues.template[res.locals.template] = true;