diff --git a/pym/portage/util/locale.py b/pym/portage/util/locale.py
index 05b3979..2a15ea1 100644
--- a/pym/portage/util/locale.py
+++ b/pym/portage/util/locale.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import os
 import textwrap
 import traceback
 
+import portage
 from portage.util import writemsg_level
 from portage.util._ctypes import find_library, LoadLibrary
 
@@ -102,7 +103,8 @@ def check_locale(silent=False, env=None):
 		try:
 			if env is not None:
 				try:
-					locale.setlocale(locale.LC_CTYPE, mylocale)
+					locale.setlocale(locale.LC_CTYPE,
+						portage._native_string(mylocale))
 				except locale.Error:
 					os._exit(2)