diff --git a/src/wp-includes/class-wp-fatal-error-handler.php b/src/wp-includes/class-wp-fatal-error-handler.php
index 458f674104..96958d10de 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/class-wp-fatal-error-handler.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/class-wp-fatal-error-handler.php
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ class WP_Fatal_Error_Handler {
 				return;
 			}
 
+			if ( ! isset( $GLOBALS['wp_locale'] ) ) {
+				load_default_textdomain();
+			}
+
 			if ( ! is_multisite() && wp_recovery_mode()->is_initialized() ) {
 				wp_recovery_mode()->handle_error( $error );
 			}