diff --git a/conftest.py b/conftest.py
index 61ae6e1320b..b87165a3f8a 100644
--- a/conftest.py
+++ b/conftest.py
@@ -18,9 +18,6 @@
 # To activate/deactivate certain things for pytest's only
 os.environ['SPYDER_PYTEST'] = 'True'
 
-# Tests expect English as the interface language
-os.environ['LANG'] = 'en'
-
 # Remove temp conf_dir before starting the tests
 from spyder.config.base import get_conf_path
 conf_dir = get_conf_path()
diff --git a/spyder/config/base.py b/spyder/config/base.py
index c98c21b9817..e5e988aeeaf 100644
--- a/spyder/config/base.py
+++ b/spyder/config/base.py
@@ -292,6 +292,10 @@ def get_interface_language():
     except ValueError:
         locale_language = DEFAULT_LANGUAGE
 
+    # Tests expect English as the interface language
+    if PYTEST:
+        locale_language = DEFAULT_LANGUAGE
+
     language = DEFAULT_LANGUAGE
 
     if locale_language is not None: