diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/gettext.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/gettext.ex
index 51e56939e..7afcd38f0 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/gettext.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/gettext.ex
@@ -161,10 +161,25 @@ defp next_locale(locale, list) do
     end
   end
 
+  # We do not yet have a proper English translation. The "English"
+  # version is currently but the fallback msgid. However, this
+  # will not work if the user puts English as the first language,
+  # and at the same time specifies other languages, as gettext will
+  # think the English translation is missing, and call
+  # handle_missing_translation functions. This may result in
+  # text in other languages being shown even if English is preferred
+  # by the user.
+  #
+  # To prevent this, we do not allow fallbacking when the current
+  # locale missing a translation is English.
+  defp should_fallback?(locale) do
+    locale != "en"
+  end
+
   def handle_missing_translation(locale, domain, msgctxt, msgid, bindings) do
     next = next_locale(locale, get_locales())
 
-    if is_nil(next) do
+    if is_nil(next) or not should_fallback?(locale) do
       super(locale, domain, msgctxt, msgid, bindings)
     else
       {:ok,
@@ -185,7 +200,7 @@ def handle_missing_plural_translation(
       ) do
     next = next_locale(locale, get_locales())
 
-    if is_nil(next) do
+    if is_nil(next) or not should_fallback?(locale) do
       super(locale, domain, msgctxt, msgid, msgid_plural, n, bindings)
     else
       {:ok,
diff --git a/test/pleroma/web/gettext_test.exs b/test/pleroma/web/gettext_test.exs
index 9ede4827e..e186f1ab3 100644
--- a/test/pleroma/web/gettext_test.exs
+++ b/test/pleroma/web/gettext_test.exs
@@ -38,6 +38,17 @@ test "fallback to next locale if some translation is not available" do
       end
     end
 
+    test "putting en locale at the front should not make gettext fallback unexpectedly" do
+      Pleroma.Web.Gettext.with_locales ["en", "en_test"] do
+        assert "Your account is awaiting approval" ==
+                 Pleroma.Web.Gettext.dpgettext(
+                   "static_pages",
+                   "approval pending email subject",
+                   "Your account is awaiting approval"
+                 )
+      end
+    end
+
     test "duplicated locale in list should not result in infinite loops" do
       Pleroma.Web.Gettext.with_locales ["x_unsupported", "x_unsupported", "en_test"] do
         assert "xxYour account is awaiting approvalxx" ==