diff --git a/babel.cfg b/babel.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..efceab818b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/babel.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+[python: **.py]
diff --git a/savanna/cli/savanna_api.py b/savanna/cli/savanna_api.py
index 7dc68b9fa0..88a435b583 100755
--- a/savanna/cli/savanna_api.py
+++ b/savanna/cli/savanna_api.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+import gettext
 import os
 import sys
 
@@ -33,6 +34,8 @@ if os.path.exists(os.path.join(possible_topdir,
                                '__init__.py')):
     sys.path.insert(0, possible_topdir)
 
+gettext.install('savanna', unicode=1)
+
 from savanna import config
 from savanna.db import api as db_api
 import savanna.main as server
diff --git a/savanna/db/migration/cli.py b/savanna/db/migration/cli.py
index 629cf93d66..c0abb44acb 100644
--- a/savanna/db/migration/cli.py
+++ b/savanna/db/migration/cli.py
@@ -13,8 +13,12 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+import gettext
+
 from oslo.config import cfg
 
+gettext.install('savanna', unicode=1)
+
 from savanna.db import api as db_api
 
 
diff --git a/savanna/locale/README b/savanna/locale/README
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6742f35776
--- /dev/null
+++ b/savanna/locale/README
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Savanna translations
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 2ef55f036d..8244d9b36d 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -13,3 +13,8 @@ cover-inclusive=true
 verbosity=3
 detailed-errors=1
 where=savanna/tests
+
+[extract_messages]
+keywords = _ gettext ngettext l_ lazy_gettext
+mapping_file = babel.cfg
+output_file = savanna/locale/savanna.pot