diff --git a/internal/darwin/locale.go b/internal/darwin/locale.go
index 4bb7d1d4f..5106fc1d9 100644
--- a/internal/darwin/locale.go
+++ b/internal/darwin/locale.go
@@ -70,17 +70,7 @@ func appleLanguages(own bool) []string {
 }
 
 func (a appController) PreferredLanguages() []string {
-	if langs := appleLanguages(false); len(langs) > 0 {
-		return langs
-	}
-	// A user who never ordered languages: the system's.
-	var out []string
-	withPool(func() {
-		for _, s := range arrayItems(send(class("NSLocale"), "preferredLanguages")) {
-			out = append(out, goString(s))
-		}
-	})
-	return out
+	return appleLanguages(false)
 }
 
 func (a appController) SavedLocale() (string, bool) {
diff --git a/internal/darwin/locale_test.go b/internal/darwin/locale_test.go
index 2a7066cd4..889689b5c 100644
--- a/internal/darwin/locale_test.go
+++ b/internal/darwin/locale_test.go
@@ -21,9 +21,6 @@ func TestLocales(t *testing.T) {
 	load()
 	a := appController{}
 	langs := a.PreferredLanguages()
-	if len(langs) == 0 {
-		t.Fatal("no preferred languages")
-	}
 	if r := a.Region(); r.Locale == "" || r.FirstWeekday < 0 || r.HourCycle == 0 {
 		t.Errorf("Region() = %+v", r)
 	}