diff --git a/packages/core/src/application_module.ts b/packages/core/src/application_module.ts
index 1079d19812..5ad90e2e85 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/application_module.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/application_module.ts
@@ -44,16 +44,16 @@ export function _localeFactory(locale?: string): string {
 /**
  * Work out the locale from the potential global properties.
  *
- * * Closure Compiler: use `goog.LOCALE`.
+ * * Closure Compiler: use `goog.getLocale()`.
  * * Ivy enabled: use `$localize.locale`
  */
 export function getGlobalLocale(): string {
   if (typeof ngI18nClosureMode !== 'undefined' && ngI18nClosureMode &&
-      typeof goog !== 'undefined' && goog.LOCALE !== 'en') {
-    // * The default `goog.LOCALE` value is `en`, while Angular used `en-US`.
+      typeof goog !== 'undefined' && goog.getLocale() !== 'en') {
+    // * The default `goog.getLocale()` value is `en`, while Angular used `en-US`.
     // * In order to preserve backwards compatibility, we use Angular default value over
     //   Closure Compiler's one.
-    return goog.LOCALE;
+    return goog.getLocale();
   } else {
     // KEEP `typeof $localize !== 'undefined' && $localize.locale` IN SYNC WITH THE LOCALIZE
     // COMPILE-TIME INLINER.
diff --git a/packages/goog.d.ts b/packages/goog.d.ts
index 1ea0320485..f8b4724929 100644
--- a/packages/goog.d.ts
+++ b/packages/goog.d.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ declare namespace goog {
   export const DEBUG: boolean;
   export const LOCALE: string;
   export const getMsg: (input: string, placeholders?: {[key: string]: string}) => string;
+  export const getLocale: () => string;
 }
 
 /**