--- src/core/org/apache/jmeter/util/JMeterUtils.java	(Revision 1793201)
+++ src/core/org/apache/jmeter/util/JMeterUtils.java	(Arbeitskopie)
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ 
 import java.net.URL;
 import java.net.UnknownHostException;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.Enumeration;
 import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Locale;
@@ -509,9 +512,10 @@ 
         String resString = null;
         try {
             ResourceBundle bundle = resources;
-            if(forcedLocale != null) {
-                bundle = ResourceBundle.getBundle("org.apache.jmeter.resources.messages", forcedLocale); // $NON-NLS-1$
+            if (forcedLocale != null || bundle == null) {
+                bundle = getBundle(forcedLocale);
             }
+            
             if (bundle.containsKey(resKey)) {
                 resString = bundle.getString(resKey);
             } else {
@@ -532,6 +536,43 @@ 
     }
 
     /**
+     * Try to get a {@link ResourceBundle} for the given {@code forcedLocale}.
+     * If none is found try to fallback to the bundle for the set {@link Locale}
+     * 
+     * @param forcedLocale the {@link Locale} which should be used first
+     * @return the resolved {@link ResourceBundle} or {@code null}, if none could be found
+     */
+    private static ResourceBundle getBundle(Locale forcedLocale) {
+        for (Locale locale: Arrays.asList(forcedLocale, getLocale())) {
+            if(locale != null) {
+                ResourceBundle bundle = ResourceBundle.getBundle("org.apache.jmeter.resources.messages", locale); // $NON-NLS-1$
+                if (bundle == null) {
+                    log.warn("Could not resolve ResourceBundle for Locale [{}]", locale);
+                } else {
+                    return bundle;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        return new DummyResourceBundle();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Simple {@link ResourceBundle}, that handles questions for every key, by giving the key back as an answer.
+     */
+    private static class DummyResourceBundle extends ResourceBundle {
+
+        @Override
+        protected Object handleGetObject(String key) {
+            return "[" + key + "]";
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public Enumeration<String> getKeys() {
+            return Collections.emptyEnumeration();
+        }
+    };
+
+    /**
      * To get I18N label from properties file
      * 
      * @param key