diff --git a/src/cmd/go/internal/work/init.go b/src/cmd/go/internal/work/init.go
index 7d0921f0cc900b..175912bb853d49 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/internal/work/init.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/internal/work/init.go
@@ -357,7 +357,9 @@ func compilerVersion() (version, error) {
 		compiler.err = func() error {
 			compiler.name = "unknown"
 			cc := os.Getenv("CC")
-			out, err := exec.Command(cc, "--version").Output()
+			cmd := exec.Command(cc, "--version")
+			cmd.Env = append(cmd.Environ(), "LANG=C")
+			out, err := cmd.Output()
 			if err != nil {
 				// Compiler does not support "--version" flag: not Clang or GCC.
 				return err
@@ -366,7 +368,9 @@ func compilerVersion() (version, error) {
 			var match [][]byte
 			if bytes.HasPrefix(out, []byte("gcc")) {
 				compiler.name = "gcc"
-				out, err := exec.Command(cc, "-v").CombinedOutput()
+				cmd := exec.Command(cc, "-v")
+				cmd.Env = append(cmd.Environ(), "LANG=C")
+				out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
 				if err != nil {
 					// gcc, but does not support gcc's "-v" flag?!
 					return err