diff --git a/guix/ui.scm b/guix/ui.scm
index e42c331ed6a50bc9f03f48aac139eef1eb8d3c7f..778711be924d508d54707bf0168a1f1a2731d86d 100644
--- a/guix/ui.scm
+++ b/guix/ui.scm
@@ -65,15 +65,6 @@ (define %gettext-domain
 (define _ (cut gettext <> %gettext-domain))
 (define N_ (cut ngettext <> <> <> %gettext-domain))
 
-(define (install-locale)
-  "Install the current locale settings."
-  (catch 'system-error
-    (lambda _
-      (setlocale LC_ALL ""))
-    (lambda args
-      (warning (_ "failed to install locale: ~a~%")
-               (strerror (system-error-errno args))))))
-
 (define (initialize-guix)
   "Perform the usual initialization for stand-alone Guix commands."
   (install-locale)
@@ -405,6 +396,15 @@ (define-syntax-rule (leave args ...)
     (report-error args ...)
     (exit 1)))
 
+(define (install-locale)
+  "Install the current locale settings."
+  (catch 'system-error
+    (lambda _
+      (setlocale LC_ALL ""))
+    (lambda args
+      (warning (_ "failed to install locale: ~a~%")
+               (strerror (system-error-errno args))))))
+
 (define (guix-main arg0 . args)
   (initialize-guix)
   (let ()