diff --git a/tests/runtests.py b/tests/runtests.py
index 359fca2bf5..20189c2d99 100755
--- a/tests/runtests.py
+++ b/tests/runtests.py
@@ -40,12 +40,12 @@ def get_invalid_models():
             if f.startswith('invalid'):
                 models.append((loc, f))
     return models
-                
+
 class InvalidModelTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def __init__(self, model_label):
         unittest.TestCase.__init__(self)
         self.model_label = model_label
-        
+
     def runTest(self):
         from django.core import management
         from django.db.models.loading import load_app
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class InvalidModelTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             module = load_app(self.model_label)
         except Exception, e:
             self.fail('Unable to load invalid model module')
-        
+
         s = StringIO()
         count = management.get_validation_errors(s, module)
         s.seek(0)
@@ -71,39 +71,43 @@ class InvalidModelTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
 def django_tests(verbosity, tests_to_run):
     from django.conf import settings
-    from django.db.models.loading import get_apps, load_app
 
     old_installed_apps = settings.INSTALLED_APPS
     old_test_database_name = settings.TEST_DATABASE_NAME
     old_root_urlconf = settings.ROOT_URLCONF
     old_template_dirs = settings.TEMPLATE_DIRS
-    
+    old_use_i18n = settings.USE_I18N
+
     # Redirect some settings for the duration of these tests
     settings.TEST_DATABASE_NAME = TEST_DATABASE_NAME
     settings.INSTALLED_APPS = ALWAYS_INSTALLED_APPS
     settings.ROOT_URLCONF = 'urls'
     settings.TEMPLATE_DIRS = (os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), TEST_TEMPLATE_DIR),)
-    
-    # load all the ALWAYS_INSTALLED_APPS
+    settings.USE_I18N = True
+
+    # Load all the ALWAYS_INSTALLED_APPS.
+    # (This import statement is intentionally delayed until after we
+    # access settings because of the USE_I18N dependency.)
+    from django.db.models.loading import get_apps, load_app
     get_apps()
-    
+
     # Load all the test model apps
     test_models = []
-    for model_dir, model_name in get_test_models():        
+    for model_dir, model_name in get_test_models():
         model_label = '.'.join([model_dir, model_name])
         try:
             # if the model was named on the command line, or
-            # no models were named (i.e., run all), import 
+            # no models were named (i.e., run all), import
             # this model and add it to the list to test.
             if not tests_to_run or model_name in tests_to_run:
                 if verbosity >= 1:
                     print "Importing model %s" % model_name
                 mod = load_app(model_label)
-                settings.INSTALLED_APPS.append(model_label)        
+                settings.INSTALLED_APPS.append(model_label)
                 test_models.append(mod)
         except Exception, e:
             sys.stderr.write("Error while importing %s:" % model_name + ''.join(traceback.format_exception(*sys.exc_info())[1:]))
-            continue    
+            continue
 
     # Add tests for invalid models
     extra_tests = []
@@ -111,28 +115,29 @@ def django_tests(verbosity, tests_to_run):
         model_label = '.'.join([model_dir, model_name])
         if not tests_to_run or model_name in tests_to_run:
             extra_tests.append(InvalidModelTestCase(model_label))
-    
+
     # Run the test suite, including the extra validation tests.
     from django.test.simple import run_tests
     run_tests(test_models, verbosity, extra_tests=extra_tests)
-  
+
     # Restore the old settings
     settings.INSTALLED_APPS = old_installed_apps
     settings.TESTS_DATABASE_NAME = old_test_database_name
     settings.ROOT_URLCONF = old_root_urlconf
     settings.TEMPLATE_DIRS = old_template_dirs
-    
+    settings.USE_I18N = old_use_i18n
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     from optparse import OptionParser
     usage = "%prog [options] [model model model ...]"
     parser = OptionParser(usage=usage)
     parser.add_option('-v','--verbosity', action='store', dest='verbosity', default='0',
         type='choice', choices=['0', '1', '2'],
-        help='Verbosity level; 0=minimal output, 1=normal output, 2=all output')    
+        help='Verbosity level; 0=minimal output, 1=normal output, 2=all output')
     parser.add_option('--settings',
         help='Python path to settings module, e.g. "myproject.settings". If this isn\'t provided, the DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE environment variable will be used.')
     options, args = parser.parse_args()
     if options.settings:
         os.environ['DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE'] = options.settings
-        
+
     django_tests(int(options.verbosity), args)