diff --git a/includes/database/database.inc b/includes/database/database.inc
index 8f2fe1f92a7b0c8e53da009d17d95d59e9c0293c..e5fafd16eb136ba8bb537d31acb31e0a53f44329 100644
--- a/includes/database/database.inc
+++ b/includes/database/database.inc
@@ -1983,6 +1983,7 @@ function db_change_field(&$ret, $table, $field, $field_new, $spec, $keys_new = a
  */
 function _db_error_page($error = '') {
   global $db_type;
+  drupal_init_language();
   drupal_maintenance_theme();
   drupal_set_header($_SERVER['SERVER_PROTOCOL'] . ' 503 Service Unavailable');
   drupal_set_title('Site offline');