diff --git a/lib/i18n/backend/fallbacks.rb b/lib/i18n/backend/fallbacks.rb
index 7252bb00..e55e0226 100644
--- a/lib/i18n/backend/fallbacks.rb
+++ b/lib/i18n/backend/fallbacks.rb
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ def translate(locale, key, options = {})
 
         options[:fallback] = true
         I18n.fallbacks[locale].each do |fallback|
+          next unless translations.keys.include?(fallback)
           catch(:exception) do
             result = super(fallback, key, options)
             return result unless result.nil?