diff --git a/osxphotos/_version.py b/osxphotos/_version.py
index 89faf7fb..e33bb353 100644
--- a/osxphotos/_version.py
+++ b/osxphotos/_version.py
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 """ version info """
 
-__version__ = "0.28.5"
+__version__ = "0.28.6"
diff --git a/osxphotos/template.py b/osxphotos/template.py
index 1de4d96f..551181db 100644
--- a/osxphotos/template.py
+++ b/osxphotos/template.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 # This code isn't elegant but it seems to work well.  PRs gladly accepted.
 
 import datetime
+import locale
 import os
 import pathlib
 import re
@@ -18,6 +19,9 @@ from typing import Tuple, List  # pylint: disable=syntax-error
 from .photoinfo import PhotoInfo
 from ._constants import _UNKNOWN_PERSON
 
+# ensure locale set to user's locale
+locale.setlocale(locale.LC_ALL, "")
+
 # Permitted substitutions (each of these returns a single value or None)
 TEMPLATE_SUBSTITUTIONS = {
     "{name}": "Filename of the photo",
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index b5cbf2dd..4d6eb56a 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -71,6 +71,12 @@ CLI_EXPORTED_DIRECTORY_TEMPLATE_FILENAMES1 = [
     "2018/September/Pumkins1.jpg",
 ]
 
+CLI_EXPORTED_DIRECTORY_TEMPLATE_FILENAMES_LOCALE = [
+    "2019/September/IMG_9975.JPEG",
+    "2020/Februar/IMG_1064.JPEG",
+    "2016/März/IMG_3984.JPEG",
+]
+
 CLI_EXPORTED_DIRECTORY_TEMPLATE_FILENAMES_ALBUM1 = [
     "Multi Keyword/wedding.jpg",
     "_/Tulips.jpg",
@@ -595,6 +601,45 @@ def test_export_directory_template_album_2():
             assert os.path.isfile(os.path.join(workdir, filepath))
 
 
+def test_export_directory_template_locale():
+    # test export using directory template in user locale non-US
+    import os
+    import glob
+    import locale
+    import os.path
+
+    import osxphotos
+    from osxphotos.__main__ import export
+
+    runner = CliRunner()
+    cwd = os.getcwd()
+    # pylint: disable=not-context-manager
+    with runner.isolated_filesystem():
+        # set locale environment
+        os.environ["LANG"] = "de_DE.UTF-8"
+        os.environ["LC_COLLATE"] = "de_DE.UTF-8"
+        os.environ["LC_CTYPE"] = "de_DE.UTF-8"
+        os.environ["LC_MESSAGES"] = "de_DE.UTF-8"
+        os.environ["LC_MONETARY"] = "de_DE.UTF-8"
+        os.environ["LC_NUMERIC"] = "de_DE.UTF-8"
+        os.environ["LC_TIME"] = "de_DE.UTF-8"
+        locale.setlocale(locale.LC_ALL, "")
+        result = runner.invoke(
+            export,
+            [
+                os.path.join(cwd, PLACES_PHOTOS_DB),
+                ".",
+                "-V",
+                "--directory",
+                "{created.year}/{created.month}",
+            ],
+        )
+        assert result.exit_code == 0
+        workdir = os.getcwd()
+        for filepath in CLI_EXPORTED_DIRECTORY_TEMPLATE_FILENAMES_LOCALE:
+            assert os.path.isfile(os.path.join(workdir, filepath))
+
+
 def test_places():
     import json
     import os
diff --git a/tests/test_template.py b/tests/test_template.py
index 81242795..ca4cbcae 100644
--- a/tests/test_template.py
+++ b/tests/test_template.py
@@ -53,6 +53,41 @@ TEMPLATE_VALUES = {
 }
 
 
+TEMPLATE_VALUES_DEU = {
+    "{name}": "128FB4C6-0B16-4E7D-9108-FB2E90DA1546",
+    "{original_name}": "IMG_1064",
+    "{title}": "Glen Ord",
+    "{descr}": "Jack Rose Dining Saloon",
+    "{created.date}": "2020-02-04",
+    "{created.year}": "2020",
+    "{created.yy}": "20",
+    "{created.mm}": "02",
+    "{created.month}": "Februar",
+    "{created.mon}": "Feb",
+    "{created.doy}": "035",
+    "{modified.date}": "2020-03-21",
+    "{modified.year}": "2020",
+    "{modified.yy}": "20",
+    "{modified.mm}": "03",
+    "{modified.month}": "März",
+    "{modified.mon}": "Mär",
+    "{modified.doy}": "081",
+    "{place.name}": "Washington, District of Columbia, United States",
+    "{place.country_code}": "US",
+    "{place.name.country}": "United States",
+    "{place.name.state_province}": "District of Columbia",
+    "{place.name.city}": "Washington",
+    "{place.name.area_of_interest}": "_",
+    "{place.address}": "2038 18th St NW, Washington, DC  20009, United States",
+    "{place.address.street}": "2038 18th St NW",
+    "{place.address.city}": "Washington",
+    "{place.address.state_province}": "DC",
+    "{place.address.postal_code}": "20009",
+    "{place.address.country}": "United States",
+    "{place.address.country_code}": "US",
+}
+
+
 def test_lookup():
     """ Test that a lookup is returned for every possible value """
     import re
@@ -87,6 +122,49 @@ def test_subst():
         assert rendered[0] == TEMPLATE_VALUES[template]
 
 
+def test_subst_locale_1():
+    """ Test that substitutions are correct in user locale"""
+    import locale
+    import osxphotos
+
+    # osxphotos.template sets local on load so set the environment first
+    # set locale to DE
+    locale.setlocale(locale.LC_ALL, "de_DE.UTF-8")
+    from osxphotos.template import render_filepath_template
+
+    photosdb = osxphotos.PhotosDB(dbfile=PHOTOS_DB_PLACES)
+    photo = photosdb.photos(uuid=[UUID_DICT["place_dc"]])[0]
+
+    for template in TEMPLATE_VALUES_DEU:
+        rendered, _ = render_filepath_template(template, photo)
+        assert rendered[0] == TEMPLATE_VALUES_DEU[template]
+
+
+def test_subst_locale_2():
+    """ Test that substitutions are correct in user locale"""
+    import locale
+    import os
+    import osxphotos
+
+    # osxphotos.template sets local on load so set the environment first
+    os.environ["LANG"] = "de_DE.UTF-8"
+    os.environ["LC_COLLATE"] = "de_DE.UTF-8"
+    os.environ["LC_CTYPE"] = "de_DE.UTF-8"
+    os.environ["LC_MESSAGES"] = "de_DE.UTF-8"
+    os.environ["LC_MONETARY"] = "de_DE.UTF-8"
+    os.environ["LC_NUMERIC"] = "de_DE.UTF-8"
+    os.environ["LC_TIME"] = "de_DE.UTF-8"
+
+    from osxphotos.template import render_filepath_template
+
+    photosdb = osxphotos.PhotosDB(dbfile=PHOTOS_DB_PLACES)
+    photo = photosdb.photos(uuid=[UUID_DICT["place_dc"]])[0]
+
+    for template in TEMPLATE_VALUES_DEU:
+        rendered, _ = render_filepath_template(template, photo)
+        assert rendered[0] == TEMPLATE_VALUES_DEU[template]
+
+
 def test_subst_default_val():
     """ Test substitution with default value specified """
     import locale