diff --git a/layouts/404.html b/layouts/404.html
index 7b752ef..9d8426f 100644
--- a/layouts/404.html
+++ b/layouts/404.html
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 {{ partial "top.html" . }}
-<p>{{ ( index $.Site.Data.translations $.Site.Params.locale ).notfoundmsg }}</p>
-<p><a href="/">{{ ( index $.Site.Data.translations $.Site.Params.locale ).gotoroot }}</a></p>
+<p>{{ ( index $.Site.Data.translations (default $.Site.Params.locale "en-US") ).notfoundmsg }}</p>
+<p><a href="/">{{ ( index $.Site.Data.translations (default $.Site.Params.locale "en-US") ).gotoroot }}</a></p>
 {{ partial "bottom.html" . }}
diff --git a/layouts/_default/single.html b/layouts/_default/single.html
index 7057dbc..33f1c15 100644
--- a/layouts/_default/single.html
+++ b/layouts/_default/single.html
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {{ partial "top.html" . }}
 <h1>{{ .Title }}</h1>
-<h4>{{ ( index $.Site.Data.translations $.Site.Params.locale ).datepublished }} {{ dateFormat "01-02-2006 15:04:05" .Date }}</h4>
+<h4>{{ ( index $.Site.Data.translations (default $.Site.Params.locale "en-US") ).datepublished }} {{ dateFormat "01-02-2006 15:04:05" .Date }}</h4>
 {{ partial "share.html" . }}
 <article>
     {{ .Content }}
diff --git a/layouts/partials/menu.html b/layouts/partials/menu.html
index 5ba71c3..e456a7f 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/menu.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/menu.html
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <nav class="col-md-3">
-    <h3 class="home-link"><a href="{{ index .Site.Params "rootlink" | default .Site.BaseURL }}">{{ ( index $.Site.Data.translations $.Site.Params.locale ).root }}</a></h3>
+    <h3 class="home-link"><a href="{{ index .Site.Params "rootlink" | default .Site.BaseURL }}">{{ ( index $.Site.Data.translations (default $.Site.Params.locale "en-US") ).root }}</a></h3>
     <div id="last-posts" class="open">
-        <h3 data-open="last-posts">{{ .Site.Title }} - {{ ( index $.Site.Data.translations $.Site.Params.locale ).mostrecentposts }}</h3>
+        <h3 data-open="last-posts">{{ .Site.Title }} - {{ ( index $.Site.Data.translations (default $.Site.Params.locale "en-US") ).mostrecentposts }}</h3>
         <ul>
             {{ range first 10 .Site.RegularPages }}
             <li><a href="{{ .Permalink }}">{{ .Title }}</a></li>
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
     {{ with .Site.Taxonomies.tags }}
     <div id="tags" class="open">
-        <h3 data-open="tags">{{ ( index $.Site.Data.translations $.Site.Params.locale ).tags }}</h3>
+        <h3 data-open="tags">{{ ( index $.Site.Data.translations (default $.Site.Params.locale "en-US") ).tags }}</h3>
         <ul class="tags">
             {{ range $name, $taxonomy := . }}
             <li><a href="/tags/{{ $name | urlize }}">{{ $name }}</a></li>
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 
     {{ with .Site.Taxonomies.categories }}
     <div id="categories" class="open">
-        <h3 data-open="categories">{{ ( index $.Site.Data.translations $.Site.Params.locale ).categories }}</h3>
+        <h3 data-open="categories">{{ ( index $.Site.Data.translations (default $.Site.Params.locale "en-US") ).categories }}</h3>
         <ul class="categories">
             {{ range $name, $taxonomy := . }}
             <li><a href="/categories/{{ $name | urlize }}">{{ $name }}</a></li>
diff --git a/layouts/partials/share.html b/layouts/partials/share.html
index 2cfc250..fa8fe53 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/share.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/share.html
@@ -16,6 +16,6 @@
     var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
     if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
     js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
-    js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/{{ $.Site.Params.locale }}/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.5";
+    js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/{{ (default $.Site.Params.locale "en-US") }}/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.5";
     fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
 }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>