diff --git a/default.nix b/default.nix
index f4509b8..80ccffd 100644
--- a/default.nix
+++ b/default.nix
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ in {
       -----END CERTIFICATE-----
     ''];
 
+    i18n.defaultLocale = "en_US.utf8";
+
     # from https://github.com/dylanaraps/neofetch
     users.motd = ''