diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 536979b1d..238537f9f 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1038,7 +1038,7 @@ elseif(APPLE)
         src/detection/lm/lm_nosupport.c
         src/detection/loadavg/loadavg_bsd.c
         src/detection/libc/libc_apple.c
-        src/detection/locale/locale_linux.c
+        src/detection/locale/locale_apple.c
         src/detection/localip/localip_linux.c
         src/detection/gamepad/gamepad_apple.c
         src/detection/media/media_apple.m
diff --git a/src/detection/locale/locale_apple.c b/src/detection/locale/locale_apple.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c5a5e8e1a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/detection/locale/locale_apple.c
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#include "detection/locale/locale.h"
+#include "common/apple/cf_helpers.h"
+
+const char* ffDetectLocale(FFstrbuf* result) {
+    // Read the system-wide locale preference (equivalent to `defaults read -g AppleLocale`),
+    // which is NOT affected by user environment variables (LANG, LC_ALL, etc.)
+    FF_CFTYPE_AUTO_RELEASE CFStringRef appleLocale = CFPreferencesCopyAppValue(CFSTR("AppleLocale"), kCFPreferencesAnyApplication);
+    if (!appleLocale) {
+        return "Failed to read AppleLocale";
+    }
+
+    return ffCfStrGetString(appleLocale, result);
+}