diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/homeserver.yaml.j2 b/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/homeserver.yaml.j2
index 37cad10f..bf5e57de 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/homeserver.yaml.j2
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/homeserver.yaml.j2
@@ -868,6 +868,7 @@ database:
   # The database engine name
   name: "psycopg2"
   txn_limit: {{ matrix_synapse_database_txn_limit }}
+  allow_unsafe_locale: true
   args:
     user: {{ matrix_synapse_database_user|string|to_json }}
     password: {{ matrix_synapse_database_password|string|to_json }}