diff --git a/common/init.sls b/common/init.sls
index fccc2436..4f7bab0e 100644
--- a/common/init.sls
+++ b/common/init.sls
@@ -5,3 +5,21 @@ servo:
     - fullname: Tom Servo
     - shell: /bin/bash
     - home: {{ common.servo_home }}
+
+{% if grains['os'] == 'Ubuntu' %}
+locales-directory:
+  # locale.present is a little fragile and needs this dir
+  cmd.run:
+    - name: mkdir -p /usr/share/i18n/locales
+    - unless: test -d /usr/share/i18n/locales
+
+utf8_locale:
+  locale.present:
+    - name: en_US.UTF-8
+
+default_locale:
+  locale.system:
+    - name: en_US.UTF-8
+    - require:
+      - locale: utf8_locale
+{% endif %}