diff --git a/python-rsa.changes b/python-rsa.changes
index 4b68c9a..332c3bd 100644
--- a/python-rsa.changes
+++ b/python-rsa.changes
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+-------------------------------------------------------------------
+Sat Mar 23 18:54:24 UTC 2019 - Dirk Mueller <dmueller@suse.com>
+
+- fix build on older distributions
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 Sat Feb 16 13:51:23 UTC 2019 - John Vandenberg <jayvdb@gmail.com>
 
diff --git a/python-rsa.spec b/python-rsa.spec
index cdbd30e..c2b2d9c 100644
--- a/python-rsa.spec
+++ b/python-rsa.spec
@@ -50,9 +50,11 @@ PKCS#1 version 1.5.
 %setup -q -n rsa-%{version}
 
 %build
+export LC_ALL=en_US.utf8
 %python_build
 
 %install
+export LC_ALL=en_US.utf8
 %python_install
 %python_expand %fdupes %{buildroot}%{$python_sitelib}
 
@@ -71,6 +73,7 @@ PKCS#1 version 1.5.
 
 %if %{with tests}
 %check
+export LC_ALL=en_US.utf8
 %python_exec setup.py test
 %endif