--- a/src/mousetrap/i18n.py
+++ b/src/mousetrap/i18n.py
@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@ LOCALE_DIR = os.path.abspath(
 )
 LOGGER.debug("LOCALE_DIR = %s", LOCALE_DIR)
 
-translations = gettext.translation("mousetrap", localedir=LOCALE_DIR)
+gettext.bindtextdomain("mousetrap", localedir=LOCALE_DIR)
 
 try:
-    _ = translations.ugettext
-except AttributeError:
-    _ = translations.gettext
+    from gettext import ugettext as _
+except ImportError:
+    from gettext import gettext as _
