diff --git a/Changelog.md b/Changelog.md
index 638ad1e..34b1ba1 100644
--- a/Changelog.md
+++ b/Changelog.md
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 - `DB_LOCALE` config parameter renamed to `PG_LOCALE`
 - complete rewrite of the README
 - add support for creating backups using `pg_basebackup`
+- removed `PG_LOCALE` option (doesn't work!)
 
 **9.4-2**
 - added replication options
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ed46636..d17a492 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -102,18 +102,6 @@ mkdir -p /srv/docker/postgresql
 chcon -Rt svirt_sandbox_file_t /srv/docker/postgresql
 ```
 
-## Setting the default locale
-
-*This is an experimental option. Please share your feedback and/or suggestions*
-
-Using the `PG_LOCALE` variable you can set the default [locale](http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.4/static/locale.html) for the database cluster. The default value of this variable is `PG_LOCALE=C`.
-
-[Example redacted]
-
-> **Note**
->
-> This variable is effective only on the first run of the container as it is used while creating a new PostgreSQL database cluster using [initdb](http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.4/static/app-initdb.html)
-
 ## Trusting local connections
 
 By default connections to the PostgreSQL server need to authenticated using a password. If desired you can trust connections from the local network using the `PG_TRUST_LOCALNET` variable.
diff --git a/runtime/env-defaults b/runtime/env-defaults
index 3cf29fa..a1bd4ed 100644
--- a/runtime/env-defaults
+++ b/runtime/env-defaults
@@ -2,9 +2,6 @@
 
 PG_SSL=${PG_SSL:-}
 
-PG_LOCALE=${PG_LOCALE:-$DB_LOCALE} # backward compatibility
-PG_LOCALE=${PG_LOCALE:-C}
-
 PG_TRUST_LOCALNET=${PG_TRUST_LOCALNET:-$PSQL_TRUST_LOCALNET} # backward compatibility
 PG_TRUST_LOCALNET=${PG_TRUST_LOCALNET:-false}
 
diff --git a/runtime/functions b/runtime/functions
index 21759ab..1bd5f1f 100755
--- a/runtime/functions
+++ b/runtime/functions
@@ -24,13 +24,6 @@ map_uidgid() {
   fi
 }
 
-locale_gen() {
-  if [[ $PG_LOCALE != C ]]; then
-    echo "Generating locale \"${PG_LOCALE}\"..."
-    locale-gen ${PG_LOCALE} >/dev/null
-  fi
-}
-
 create_datadir() {
   echo "Initializing datadir..."
   mkdir -p ${PG_HOME}
@@ -210,7 +203,7 @@ initialize_database() {
         fi
 
         exec_as_postgres ${PG_BINDIR}/initdb --pgdata=${PG_DATADIR} \
-          --username=${PG_USER} --encoding=unicode --locale=${PG_LOCALE} --auth=trust >/dev/null
+          --username=${PG_USER} --encoding=unicode --auth=trust >/dev/null
 
         if [[ -n ${PG_OLD_VERSION} ]]; then
           PG_OLD_BINDIR=/usr/lib/postgresql/${PG_OLD_VERSION}/bin
@@ -344,7 +337,6 @@ fi
 # default behaviour is to launch postgres
 if [[ -z ${1} ]]; then
   map_uidgid
-  locale_gen
 
   create_datadir
   create_certdir