diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/localization.py b/src/calibre/utils/localization.py
index 8f17007c3e..d7f89632cc 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/localization.py
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/localization.py
@@ -155,6 +155,8 @@ def get_translator(bcp_47_code):
     lang = {'pt':'pt_BR', 'zh':'zh_CN'}.get(lang, lang)
     available = available_translations()
     found = True
+    if lang == 'en':
+        return found, lang, NullTranslations()
     if lang not in available:
         lang = {'pt':'pt_BR', 'zh':'zh_CN'}.get(parts[0], parts[0])
         if lang not in available:
@@ -162,8 +164,6 @@ def get_translator(bcp_47_code):
             if lang not in available:
                 lang = 'en'
             found = False
-    if lang == 'en':
-        return found, lang, NullTranslations()
     return found, lang, get_single_translator(lang)