diff --git a/tests/test_types.py b/tests/test_types.py
index dc86060b..72675b83 100644
--- a/tests/test_types.py
+++ b/tests/test_types.py
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ def test_localisation(self):
         old_locale = locale.setlocale(locale.LC_ALL, None)
         self.assertEqual(exiv2.exvGettext(str_en), str_en)
         try:
-            locale.setlocale(locale.LC_ALL, 'de_DE')
+            locale.setlocale(locale.LC_ALL, 'de_DE.utf8')
         except locale.Error:
             self.skipTest("failed to set locale")
             return