diff --git a/build/scripts/build_cross_tools b/build/scripts/build_cross_tools
index 37382620d3..218a825509 100755
--- a/build/scripts/build_cross_tools
+++ b/build/scripts/build_cross_tools
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ mkdir -p $installDir $objDir $binutilsObjDir $gccObjDir $tmpIncludeDir \
 	$tmpLibDir || exit 1
 mkdir -p $installDir/lib/gcc-lib/i586-pc-haiku/$haikuRequiredLegacyGCCVersion
 
+# force the POSIX locale, as the build (makeinfo) might choke otherwise
+export LC_ALL=POSIX
+
 # build binutils
 cd $binutilsObjDir
 CFLAGS="-O2" CXXFLAGS="-O2" $buildToolsDir/binutils/configure \
diff --git a/build/scripts/build_cross_tools_gcc4 b/build/scripts/build_cross_tools_gcc4
index 976ff9d3f5..320420f8ea 100755
--- a/build/scripts/build_cross_tools_gcc4
+++ b/build/scripts/build_cross_tools_gcc4
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ mkdir -p $installDir $objDir $binutilsObjDir $gccObjDir $tmpIncludeDir \
 	$tmpLibDir || exit 1
 mkdir -p $installDir/lib/gcc/$haikuMachine/$gccVersion
 
+# force the POSIX locale, as the build (makeinfo) might choke otherwise
+export LC_ALL=POSIX
 
 # build binutils
 cd $binutilsObjDir