diff --git a/mercurial/i18n.py b/mercurial/i18n.py
--- a/mercurial/i18n.py
+++ b/mercurial/i18n.py
@@ -7,9 +7,7 @@ This software may be used and distribute
 of the GNU General Public License, incorporated herein by reference.
 """
 
-# the import from gettext is _really_ slow
-# for now we use a dummy function
-gettext = lambda x: x
-#import gettext
-#t = gettext.translation('hg', '/usr/share/locale', fallback=1)
-#gettext = t.gettext
+import gettext
+t = gettext.translation('hg', fallback=1)
+gettext = t.gettext
+_ = gettext