diff --git a/django/core/management.py b/django/core/management.py
index 7cbd018115..a469c72901 100644
--- a/django/core/management.py
+++ b/django/core/management.py
@@ -1142,7 +1142,14 @@ def dbshell():
 dbshell.args = ""
 
 def runfcgi(args):
-    """Run this project as a FastCGI application. requires flup."""
+    "Runs this project as a FastCGI application. Requires flup."
+    from django.conf import settings
+    from django.utils import translation
+    # Activate the current language, because it won't get activated later.
+    try:
+        translation.activate(settings.LANGUAGE_CODE)
+    except AttributeError:
+        pass
     from django.core.servers.fastcgi import runfastcgi
     runfastcgi(args)
 runfcgi.args = '[various KEY=val options, use `runfcgi help` for help]'