diff --git a/mk/tests.mk b/mk/tests.mk
index d28b80a597886..a872395855b36 100644
--- a/mk/tests.mk
+++ b/mk/tests.mk
@@ -60,11 +60,14 @@ ifdef VERBOSE
   CTEST_TESTARGS += --verbose
 endif
 
+# Setting locale ensures that gdb's output remains consistent.
+# This prevents tests from failing with some locales (fixes #17423).
+export LC_ALL=C
+
 # If we're running perf then set this environment variable
 # to put the benchmarks into 'hard mode'
 ifeq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),perf)
-  RUST_BENCH=1
-  export RUST_BENCH
+  export RUST_BENCH=1
 endif
 
 TEST_LOG_FILE=tmp/check-stage$(1)-T-$(2)-H-$(3)-$(4).log