diff --git a/core/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkus/deployment/steps/LocaleProcessor.java b/core/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkus/deployment/steps/LocaleProcessor.java
index ef44b09da972c..ba3062e7ae52e 100644
--- a/core/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkus/deployment/steps/LocaleProcessor.java
+++ b/core/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkus/deployment/steps/LocaleProcessor.java
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ public boolean getAsBoolean() {
      */
     @Deprecated
     public static String nativeImageUserLanguage(NativeConfig nativeConfig, LocalesBuildTimeConfig localesBuildTimeConfig) {
-        String language = LocalesBuildTimeConfig.DEFAULT_LANGUAGE;
+        String language = System.getProperty("user.language", "en");
         if (localesBuildTimeConfig.defaultLocale.isPresent()) {
             language = localesBuildTimeConfig.defaultLocale.get().getLanguage();
         }
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ public static String nativeImageUserLanguage(NativeConfig nativeConfig, LocalesB
      */
     @Deprecated
     public static String nativeImageUserCountry(NativeConfig nativeConfig, LocalesBuildTimeConfig localesBuildTimeConfig) {
-        String country = LocalesBuildTimeConfig.DEFAULT_COUNTRY;
+        String country = System.getProperty("user.country", "");
         if (localesBuildTimeConfig.defaultLocale.isPresent()) {
             country = localesBuildTimeConfig.defaultLocale.get().getCountry();
         }
diff --git a/core/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkus/deployment/steps/NativeImageFeatureStep.java b/core/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkus/deployment/steps/NativeImageFeatureStep.java
index bd1c13c911eb0..057d5d3ee9c02 100644
--- a/core/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkus/deployment/steps/NativeImageFeatureStep.java
+++ b/core/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkus/deployment/steps/NativeImageFeatureStep.java
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ public void write(String s, byte[] bytes) {
         overallCatch.invokeStaticMethod(BUILD_TIME_INITIALIZATION,
                 overallCatch.marshalAsArray(String.class, overallCatch.load(""))); // empty string means initialize everything
 
+        // Set the user.language and user.country system properties to the default locale
         // The deprecated option takes precedence for users who are already using it.
         if (nativeConfig.userLanguage().isPresent()) {
             overallCatch.invokeStaticMethod(REGISTER_RUNTIME_SYSTEM_PROPERTIES,
diff --git a/core/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/runtime/LocalesBuildTimeConfig.java b/core/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/runtime/LocalesBuildTimeConfig.java
index e3d1bfc077544..fc8f25524c339 100644
--- a/core/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/runtime/LocalesBuildTimeConfig.java
+++ b/core/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/runtime/LocalesBuildTimeConfig.java
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ public class LocalesBuildTimeConfig {
      * Defaults to the JVM's default locale if not set. Starting with GraalVM for JDK 24, it defaults to {@code en-US}
      * for native executables.
      */
-    @ConfigItem(defaultValue = DEFAULT_LANGUAGE + "-" + DEFAULT_COUNTRY, defaultValueDocumentation = "Build system locale")
+    @ConfigItem(defaultValueDocumentation = "Defaults to the JVM's default locale if not set. "
+            + "Starting with GraalVM for JDK 24, it defaults to en-US for native executables.")
     public Optional<Locale> defaultLocale;
 }