diff --git a/wp-includes/wp-l10n.php b/wp-includes/wp-l10n.php
index 1ddceb5056..3ac7d0cbfd 100644
--- a/wp-includes/wp-l10n.php
+++ b/wp-includes/wp-l10n.php
@@ -93,5 +93,5 @@ function load_theme_textdomain($domain) {
 // Load the default domain.
 load_default_textdomain();
 
-require($curpath . 'locale.php');
+require_once(ABSPATH . WPINC . '/locale.php');
 ?>