diff --git a/anki/lang.py b/anki/lang.py
index 693445255..416f1042a 100644
--- a/anki/lang.py
+++ b/anki/lang.py
@@ -63,15 +63,16 @@ def _(str):
 def ngettext(single, plural, n):
     return localTranslation().ungettext(single, plural, n)
 
+def langDir():
+    dir = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(
+        os.path.abspath(__file__)), "locale")
+    if not os.path.exists(dir):
+        dir = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0]), "locale")
+    return dir
+
 def setLang(lang, local=True):
-    base = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
-    localeDir = os.path.join(base, "locale")
-    if not os.path.exists(localeDir):
-        localeDir = os.path.join(
-            os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0]), "locale")
-    trans = gettext.translation('libanki', localeDir,
-                                languages=[lang],
-                                fallback=True)
+    trans = gettext.translation(
+        'libanki', langDir(), languages=[lang], fallback=True)
     if local:
         threadLocal.currentLang = lang
         threadLocal.currentTranslation = trans