diff --git a/run_tests.py b/run_tests.py
index 3c8d410e1..d5d8acd16 100644
--- a/run_tests.py
+++ b/run_tests.py
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ import os
 import unittest
 import sys
 
+gettext.install('nova', unicode=1)
+
 from nose import config
 from nose import core
 from nose import result