diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/rendering.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/rendering.rb
index 3b6e966a..cae0f430 100644
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/rendering.rb
+++ b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/rendering.rb
@@ -129,9 +129,10 @@ module Middleman
 
           # Store last engine for later (could be inside nested renders)
           @current_engine, engine_was = engine, @current_engine
-          old_locale = ::I18n.locale
-
-          I18n.locale = opts[:lang] if opts[:lang]
+          if defined?(::I18n)
+            old_locale = ::I18n.locale
+            ::I18n.locale = opts[:lang] if opts[:lang]
+          end
 
           # Use a dup of self as a context so that instance variables set within
           # the template don't persist for other templates.
@@ -169,7 +170,7 @@ module Middleman
         ensure
           # Pop all the saved variables from earlier as we may be returning to a
           # previous render (layouts, partials, nested layouts).
-          ::I18n.locale = old_locale
+          ::I18n.locale = old_locale if defined?(::I18n)
           @current_engine = engine_was
           @content_blocks = nil
           @current_locs = nil