diff --git a/django/views/i18n.py b/django/views/i18n.py
index c7ee1b33bd..37ec10b552 100644
--- a/django/views/i18n.py
+++ b/django/views/i18n.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from django import http
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.template import Context, Template
 from django.utils import importlib
-from django.utils.translation import check_for_language, activate, to_locale, get_language
+from django.utils.translation import check_for_language, to_locale, get_language
 from django.utils.encoding import smart_text
 from django.utils.formats import get_format_modules, get_format
 from django.utils._os import upath
@@ -205,17 +205,18 @@ def javascript_catalog(request, domain='djangojs', packages=None):
     go to the djangojs domain. But this might be needed if you
     deliver your JavaScript source from Django templates.
     """
-    if request.GET:
-        if 'language' in request.GET:
-            if check_for_language(request.GET['language']):
-                activate(request.GET['language'])
+    default_locale = to_locale(settings.LANGUAGE_CODE)
+    locale = to_locale(get_language())
+
+    if request.GET and 'language' in request.GET:
+        if check_for_language(request.GET['language']):
+            locale = to_locale(request.GET['language'])
+
     if packages is None:
         packages = ['django.conf']
     if isinstance(packages, six.string_types):
         packages = packages.split('+')
     packages = [p for p in packages if p == 'django.conf' or p in settings.INSTALLED_APPS]
-    default_locale = to_locale(settings.LANGUAGE_CODE)
-    locale = to_locale(get_language())
     t = {}
     paths = []
     en_selected = locale.startswith('en')