diff --git a/toolkit/mozapps/update/nsUpdateService.js b/toolkit/mozapps/update/nsUpdateService.js
index 84bf3a4aec4d..986982e916a2 100644
--- a/toolkit/mozapps/update/nsUpdateService.js
+++ b/toolkit/mozapps/update/nsUpdateService.js
@@ -687,6 +687,7 @@ function cleanupActiveUpdate() {
  * the application directory.
  */
 function getLocale() {
+
   if (gLocale)
     return gLocale;
 
@@ -694,11 +695,10 @@ function getLocale() {
   if (!localeFile.exists())
     localeFile = FileUtils.getFile(KEY_GRED, [FILE_UPDATE_LOCALE]);
 
-  if (!localeFile.exists())
-    throw Components.Exception(FILE_UPDATE_LOCALE + " file doesn't exist in " +
-                               "either the " + KEY_APPDIR + " or " + KEY_GRED +
-                               " directories", Cr.NS_ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND);
-
+  if (!localeFile.exists()) {
+    // XXX temp workaround.  see bug 704230
+    return "en-US";
+  }
   gLocale = readStringFromFile(localeFile);
   LOG("getLocale - getting locale from file: " + localeFile.path +
       ", locale: " + gLocale);