diff --git a/django/utils/translation.py b/django/utils/translation.py
index 1abeccf39b..73f073f68b 100644
--- a/django/utils/translation.py
+++ b/django/utils/translation.py
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def translation(appname, language):
     except IOError: t = gettext_module.NullTranslations()
     _translations[(appname, language)] = t
 
-    parts = appname.split('.')
+    parts = os.environ['DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE'].split('.')
     project = __import__(parts[0], {}, {}, [])
 
     projectpath = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(project.__file__), 'locale')