diff --git a/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/cite.js b/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/cite.js
index c7d6b811d..e343f0c7f 100644
--- a/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/cite.js
+++ b/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/cite.js
@@ -126,8 +126,8 @@ Zotero.Cite.System.retrieveItem = function(item) {
 Zotero.Cite.System.retrieveLocale = function(lang) {
 	var protHandler = Components.classes["@mozilla.org/network/protocol;1?name=chrome"]
 		.createInstance(Components.interfaces.nsIProtocolHandler);
-	var channel = protHandler.newChannel(protHandler.newURI("chrome://zotero/content/locale/csl/locales-"+lang+".xml", "UTF-8", null));
 	try {
+		var channel = protHandler.newChannel(protHandler.newURI("chrome://zotero/content/locale/csl/locales-"+lang+".xml", "UTF-8", null));
 		var rawStream = channel.open();
 	} catch(e) {
 		return false;