diff --git a/admin/quick-install-emacs b/admin/quick-install-emacs
index 6619554eddc..c73dcc6f07f 100755
--- a/admin/quick-install-emacs
+++ b/admin/quick-install-emacs
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ MKDIR='mkdir --verbose -p'
 
 NAWK=/usr/bin/nawk
 
+# avoid non-standard command output from non-C locales
+unset LANG LC_ALL LC_MESSAGES
+
 # Some messages
 USAGE="Usage: $me [OPTION...] BUILD_TREE [PREFIX]"
 TRY="Try "\`"$me --help' for more information."