diff --git a/base.php b/base.php
index d8a507b..5afb4e2 100644
--- a/base.php
+++ b/base.php
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ function str_format($format) {
  * http://www.mind-it.info/2010/02/22/a-simple-approach-to-localization-in-php/
  */
 function localize($phrase, $count=-1, $reset=false) {
+    global $config;
     if ($count == 0)
         $phrase .= ".none";
     if ($count == 1)
@@ -207,8 +208,10 @@ function localize($phrase, $count=-1, $reset=false) {
     /* If no instance of $translations has occured load the language file */
     if (is_null($translations)) {
         $lang = "en";
-        if (isset($_SERVER['HTTP_ACCEPT_LANGUAGE']))
-        {
+        if (!empty($config['cops_language'])) {
+            $lang = $config['cops_language'];
+        }
+        elseif (isset($_SERVER['HTTP_ACCEPT_LANGUAGE'])) {
             $lang = substr($_SERVER['HTTP_ACCEPT_LANGUAGE'], 0, 2);
         }
         $lang_file_en = NULL;
diff --git a/config_default.php b/config_default.php
index f94e89b..0749669 100644
--- a/config_default.php
+++ b/config_default.php
@@ -275,4 +275,10 @@
     $config['cops_basic_authentication'] = NULL;
 
     /* Which template is used */
-    $config['cops_template']= 'default';
+    $config['cops_template'] = 'default';
+
+    /*
+     * Set language code to force a language (see lang/ directory for available languages).
+     * When empty it will auto detect the language.
+     */
+    $config['cops_language'] = '';