diff --git a/src/locales/wgu-i18n.js b/src/locales/wgu-i18n.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f5883ec1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/locales/wgu-i18n.js
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+/**
+ * Creates the VueI18n object used for internationalization.
+ */
+import Vue from 'vue';
+import VueI18n from 'vue-i18n';
+import LocaleUtil from '@/util/Locale';
+
+Vue.use(VueI18n);
+
+const appConfig = Vue.prototype.$appConfig;
+
+const preset = {
+  locale: LocaleUtil.getPreferredLanguage(appConfig),
+  fallbackLocale: LocaleUtil.getFallbackLanguage(appConfig),
+  messages: LocaleUtil.importVueI18nLocales()
+};
+
+export const i18n = new VueI18n(preset);
diff --git a/src/main.js b/src/main.js
index 29e696cf..11f7ddda 100644
--- a/src/main.js
+++ b/src/main.js
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 import Vue from 'vue';
 import Vuetify from 'vuetify/lib/framework';
 import PortalVue from 'portal-vue'
-import VueI18n from 'vue-i18n';
 import 'roboto-fontface/css/roboto/roboto-fontface.css'
 import '@mdi/font/css/materialdesignicons.css'
 import 'material-icons/iconfont/material-icons.css'
@@ -17,7 +16,6 @@ import axios from 'axios';
 
 Vue.use(Vuetify);
 Vue.use(PortalVue);
-Vue.use(VueI18n);
 
 require('./assets/css/wegue.css');
 
@@ -62,21 +60,6 @@ const createVuetify = function (appConfig) {
   return new Vuetify(preset);
 }
 
-/**
- * Creates the VueI18n object used for internationalization.
- *
- * @param {Object} appConfig Global application context.
- * @returns The active I18n instance.
- */
-const createVueI18n = function (appConfig) {
-  const preset = {
-    locale: LocaleUtil.getPreferredLanguage(appConfig),
-    fallbackLocale: LocaleUtil.getFallbackLanguage(appConfig),
-    messages: LocaleUtil.importVueI18nLocales()
-  };
-  return new VueI18n(preset);
-}
-
 /**
  * Backwards compatibility layer for legacy features in app-conf.json.
  *
@@ -181,13 +164,17 @@ const migrateAppConfig = function (appConfig) {
  *
  * @param {Object} appConfig Global application context.
  */
-const createApp = function (appConfig) {
+const createApp = async function (appConfig) {
   // make app config accessible for all components
   Vue.prototype.$appConfig = migrateAppConfig(appConfig);
 
+  // dynamic import, otherwise Vue.prototype.$appConfig won't be set yet on
+  // static import
+  const { i18n } = await import('./locales/wgu-i18n.js');
+
   new Vue({
     vuetify: createVuetify(appConfig),
-    i18n: createVueI18n(appConfig),
+    i18n,
     render: h => h(WguApp)
   }).$mount('#app');
 };
diff --git a/tests/unit/specs/util/Locale.spec.js b/tests/unit/specs/util/Locale.spec.js
index b557a173..e9cd931c 100644
--- a/tests/unit/specs/util/Locale.spec.js
+++ b/tests/unit/specs/util/Locale.spec.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import LocaleUtil from '@/util/Locale'
+import Vue from 'vue';
 
 const appConfig = {
   lang: {
@@ -11,6 +12,8 @@ const appConfig = {
   }
 };
 
+Vue.prototype.$appConfig = appConfig;
+
 describe('LocaleUtil', () => {
   it('is defined', () => {
     expect(typeof LocaleUtil).to.not.equal(undefined);