diff --git a/include/loot/api.h b/include/loot/api.h
index a9a348ad..2dbd9a17 100644
--- a/include/loot/api.h
+++ b/include/loot/api.h
@@ -92,6 +92,15 @@ LOOT_API bool IsCompatible(const unsigned int major,
  *************************************************************************/
 /**@{*/
 
+/**
+ * Initialise the current global locale using the given ID.
+ *
+ * This sets the global locale up so that the library's UTF-8 support can
+ * function.
+ * @param locale A locale ID.
+ */
+LOOT_API void InitialiseLocale(const std::string& id);
+
 /**
  *  @brief Initialise a new game handle.
  *  @details Creates a handle for a game, which is then used by all
diff --git a/src/api/api.cpp b/src/api/api.cpp
index 3617514f..de057393 100644
--- a/src/api/api.cpp
+++ b/src/api/api.cpp
@@ -61,10 +61,6 @@ LOOT_API void SetLoggingVerbosity(LogVerbosity verbosity) {
 }
 
 LOOT_API void SetLogFile(const std::string& path) {
-  // Set the locale to get UTF-8 conversions working correctly.
-  std::locale::global(boost::locale::generator().generate(""));
-  boost::filesystem::path::imbue(std::locale());
-
   boost::log::add_file_log(
     boost::log::keywords::file_name = path,
     boost::log::keywords::auto_flush = true,
@@ -85,14 +81,14 @@ LOOT_API bool IsCompatible(const unsigned int versionMajor, const unsigned int v
     return versionMinor == loot::LootVersion::minor;
 }
 
+LOOT_API void InitialiseLocale(const std::string& id) {
+  std::locale::global(boost::locale::generator().generate(id));
+  boost::filesystem::path::imbue(std::locale());
+}
+
 LOOT_API std::shared_ptr<GameInterface> CreateGameHandle(const GameType game,
                                                          const std::string& gamePath,
                                                          const std::string& gameLocalPath) {
-  // Set the locale to get UTF-8 conversions working correctly.
-  std::locale::global(boost::locale::generator().generate(""));
-  boost::filesystem::path::imbue(std::locale());
-
-  // Check for valid paths.
   const std::string resolvedGamePath = ResolvePath(gamePath);
   if (!gamePath.empty() && !fs::is_directory(resolvedGamePath))
     throw std::invalid_argument("Given game path \"" + gamePath + "\" does not resolve to a valid directory.");
diff --git a/src/tests/api/interface/main.cpp b/src/tests/api/interface/main.cpp
index 0f4e93ca..46a0f084 100644
--- a/src/tests/api/interface/main.cpp
+++ b/src/tests/api/interface/main.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     //Set the locale to get encoding conversions working correctly.
   std::locale::global(boost::locale::generator().generate(""));
   boost::filesystem::path::imbue(std::locale());
+  loot::InitialiseLocale("");
 
   //Disable logging or else stdout will get overrun.
   boost::log::core::get()->set_logging_enabled(false);