diff --git a/zanata-war/src/main/java/org/zanata/service/impl/LocaleServiceImpl.java b/zanata-war/src/main/java/org/zanata/service/impl/LocaleServiceImpl.java
index a4ed35ae09..baa3e82748 100644
--- a/zanata-war/src/main/java/org/zanata/service/impl/LocaleServiceImpl.java
+++ b/zanata-war/src/main/java/org/zanata/service/impl/LocaleServiceImpl.java
@@ -266,14 +266,12 @@ public HLocale getByLocaleId(@Nonnull LocaleId locale) {
     @Override
     @Nullable
     public HLocale getByLocaleId(@Nonnull String localeId) {
-        final LocaleId locale;
         try {
-            locale = new LocaleId(localeId);
+            return this.getByLocaleId(new LocaleId(localeId));
         } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
             log.warn("Tried to look up a locale with a malformed id", e);
             return null;
         }
-        return this.getByLocaleId(locale);
     }
 
     @Override