diff --git a/Modules/FindSubversion.cmake b/Modules/FindSubversion.cmake
index a34807fb5..a4c4692c0 100644
--- a/Modules/FindSubversion.cmake
+++ b/Modules/FindSubversion.cmake
@@ -52,6 +52,11 @@
 SET(Subversion_FOUND FALSE)
 SET(Subversion_SVN_FOUND FALSE)
 
+# the subversion commands should be executed with the C locale, otherwise
+# the message (which are parsed) may be translated, Alex
+SET(_Subversion_SAVED_LC_ALL "$ENV{LC_ALL}" )
+SET(ENV{LC_ALL} C)
+
 FIND_PROGRAM(Subversion_SVN_EXECUTABLE svn
   DOC "subversion command line client")
 MARK_AS_ADVANCED(Subversion_SVN_EXECUTABLE)
@@ -105,6 +110,9 @@ IF(Subversion_SVN_EXECUTABLE)
 
 ENDIF(Subversion_SVN_EXECUTABLE)
 
+# restore the previous LC_ALL
+SET(ENV{LC_ALL} ${_Subversion_SAVED_LC_ALL})
+
 IF(NOT Subversion_FOUND)
   IF(NOT Subversion_FIND_QUIETLY)
     MESSAGE(STATUS "Subversion was not found.")