diff --git a/app/controllers/languages_controller.rb b/app/controllers/languages_controller.rb
index 13e5055c9e..122b49ab07 100644
--- a/app/controllers/languages_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/languages_controller.rb
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ def create
   def edit
     @language = Language.find_by(short: params[:id])
     authorize @language
+    return unless @language == Language.default
+
+    flash[:error] = t("languages.cannot_edit_default")
+    redirect_to languages_path
   end
 
   def update
diff --git a/config/locales/controllers/en.yml b/config/locales/controllers/en.yml
index b310e50079..06869fe5e0 100644
--- a/config/locales/controllers/en.yml
+++ b/config/locales/controllers/en.yml
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ en:
     create:
       success: Thank you for leaving kudos!
   languages:
+    cannot_edit_default: Sorry, you can't edit the default language.
     successfully_added: Language was successfully added.
     successfully_updated: Language was successfully updated.
     update:
diff --git a/spec/controllers/languages_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/languages_controller_spec.rb
index 2465a78995..ceab7e460a 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/languages_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/languages_controller_spec.rb
@@ -140,14 +140,21 @@
     end
 
     %w[translation superadmin support policy_and_abuse].each do |role|
+      Language.create(name: "Deutsch", short: "de")
       context "when logged in as an admin with #{role} role" do
         let(:admin) { create(:admin, roles: [role]) }
 
-        it "renders the edit template" do
+        it "renders the edit template for a non-default language" do
           fake_login_admin(admin)
-          get :edit, params: { id: "en" }
+          get :edit, params: { id: "de" }
           expect(response).to render_template("edit")
         end
+
+        it "redirects for the default language" do
+          fake_login_admin(admin)
+          get :edit, params: { id: "en" }
+          it_redirects_to_with_error(languages_path, "Sorry, you can't edit the default language.")
+        end
       end
     end
   end