diff --git a/ui/app/accounts/import/json.js b/ui/app/accounts/import/json.js
index ca9a29e34..8b5a2b469 100644
--- a/ui/app/accounts/import/json.js
+++ b/ui/app/accounts/import/json.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ const h = require('react-hyperscript')
 const connect = require('react-redux').connect
 const actions = require('../../actions')
 const FileInput = require('react-simple-file-input').default
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 
 const HELP_LINK = 'https://support.metamask.io/kb/article/7-importing-accounts'
 
diff --git a/ui/app/accounts/import/private-key.js b/ui/app/accounts/import/private-key.js
index d8aa1a3d8..4a04156e0 100644
--- a/ui/app/accounts/import/private-key.js
+++ b/ui/app/accounts/import/private-key.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ const Component = require('react').Component
 const h = require('react-hyperscript')
 const connect = require('react-redux').connect
 const actions = require('../../actions')
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 
 module.exports = connect(mapStateToProps, mapDispatchToProps)(PrivateKeyImportView)
 
diff --git a/ui/app/accounts/import/seed.js b/ui/app/accounts/import/seed.js
index 241200c6f..9ffc669a2 100644
--- a/ui/app/accounts/import/seed.js
+++ b/ui/app/accounts/import/seed.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ const inherits = require('util').inherits
 const Component = require('react').Component
 const h = require('react-hyperscript')
 const connect = require('react-redux').connect
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 
 module.exports = connect(mapStateToProps)(SeedImportSubview)
 
diff --git a/ui/app/accounts/new-account/create-form.js b/ui/app/accounts/new-account/create-form.js
index f9faa928c..6f35e8886 100644
--- a/ui/app/accounts/new-account/create-form.js
+++ b/ui/app/accounts/new-account/create-form.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ const PropTypes = require('prop-types')
 const h = require('react-hyperscript')
 const { connect } = require('react-redux')
 const actions = require('../../actions')
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 
 class NewAccountCreateForm extends Component {
   constructor (props) {
diff --git a/ui/app/accounts/new-account/index.js b/ui/app/accounts/new-account/index.js
index 1ed43ae08..854568c77 100644
--- a/ui/app/accounts/new-account/index.js
+++ b/ui/app/accounts/new-account/index.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ const h = require('react-hyperscript')
 const inherits = require('util').inherits
 const connect = require('react-redux').connect
 const actions = require('../../actions')
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 const { getCurrentViewContext } = require('../../selectors')
 const classnames = require('classnames')
 
diff --git a/ui/app/components/account-menu/index.js b/ui/app/components/account-menu/index.js
index aec00ff6b..9c7b6b15a 100644
--- a/ui/app/components/account-menu/index.js
+++ b/ui/app/components/account-menu/index.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ const actions = require('../../actions')
 const { Menu, Item, Divider, CloseArea } = require('../dropdowns/components/menu')
 const Identicon = require('../identicon')
 const { formatBalance } = require('../../util')
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 
 module.exports = connect(mapStateToProps, mapDispatchToProps)(AccountMenu)
 
diff --git a/ui/app/components/customize-gas-modal/index.js b/ui/app/components/customize-gas-modal/index.js
index ae9ff769d..1c6036867 100644
--- a/ui/app/components/customize-gas-modal/index.js
+++ b/ui/app/components/customize-gas-modal/index.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ const h = require('react-hyperscript')
 const inherits = require('util').inherits
 const connect = require('react-redux').connect
 const actions = require('../../actions')
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 const GasModalCard = require('./gas-modal-card')
 
 const ethUtil = require('ethereumjs-util')
diff --git a/ui/app/components/dropdowns/components/account-dropdowns.js b/ui/app/components/dropdowns/components/account-dropdowns.js
index 76fbb8060..dfa5e5fac 100644
--- a/ui/app/components/dropdowns/components/account-dropdowns.js
+++ b/ui/app/components/dropdowns/components/account-dropdowns.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ const Identicon = require('../../identicon')
 const ethUtil = require('ethereumjs-util')
 const copyToClipboard = require('copy-to-clipboard')
 const { formatBalance } = require('../../../util')
+const t = require('../../../../i18n')
 
 class AccountDropdowns extends Component {
   constructor (props) {
diff --git a/ui/app/components/dropdowns/network-dropdown.js b/ui/app/components/dropdowns/network-dropdown.js
index 02773fb46..0e16048d5 100644
--- a/ui/app/components/dropdowns/network-dropdown.js
+++ b/ui/app/components/dropdowns/network-dropdown.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ const actions = require('../../actions')
 const Dropdown = require('./components/dropdown').Dropdown
 const DropdownMenuItem = require('./components/dropdown').DropdownMenuItem
 const NetworkDropdownIcon = require('./components/network-dropdown-icon')
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 const R = require('ramda')
 
 // classes from nodes of the toggle element.
diff --git a/ui/app/components/dropdowns/token-menu-dropdown.js b/ui/app/components/dropdowns/token-menu-dropdown.js
index 3dfcec5a8..a4f93b505 100644
--- a/ui/app/components/dropdowns/token-menu-dropdown.js
+++ b/ui/app/components/dropdowns/token-menu-dropdown.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ const h = require('react-hyperscript')
 const inherits = require('util').inherits
 const connect = require('react-redux').connect
 const actions = require('../../actions')
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 
 module.exports = connect(null, mapDispatchToProps)(TokenMenuDropdown)
 
diff --git a/ui/app/components/modals/account-details-modal.js b/ui/app/components/modals/account-details-modal.js
index 746c6de4c..17760dc1a 100644
--- a/ui/app/components/modals/account-details-modal.js
+++ b/ui/app/components/modals/account-details-modal.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const { getSelectedIdentity } = require('../../selectors')
 const genAccountLink = require('../../../lib/account-link.js')
 const QrView = require('../qr-code')
 const EditableLabel = require('../editable-label')
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 
 function mapStateToProps (state) {
   return {
diff --git a/ui/app/components/modals/account-modal-container.js b/ui/app/components/modals/account-modal-container.js
index 538edcf13..08540aa76 100644
--- a/ui/app/components/modals/account-modal-container.js
+++ b/ui/app/components/modals/account-modal-container.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ const connect = require('react-redux').connect
 const actions = require('../../actions')
 const { getSelectedIdentity } = require('../../selectors')
 const Identicon = require('../identicon')
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 
 function mapStateToProps (state) {
   return {
diff --git a/ui/app/components/modals/buy-options-modal.js b/ui/app/components/modals/buy-options-modal.js
index 60fef7db4..7eb73c3a6 100644
--- a/ui/app/components/modals/buy-options-modal.js
+++ b/ui/app/components/modals/buy-options-modal.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ const inherits = require('util').inherits
 const connect = require('react-redux').connect
 const actions = require('../../actions')
 const networkNames = require('../../../../app/scripts/config.js').networkNames
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 
 function mapStateToProps (state) {
   return {
diff --git a/ui/app/components/modals/deposit-ether-modal.js b/ui/app/components/modals/deposit-ether-modal.js
index 85f640a68..e91b43841 100644
--- a/ui/app/components/modals/deposit-ether-modal.js
+++ b/ui/app/components/modals/deposit-ether-modal.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ const connect = require('react-redux').connect
 const actions = require('../../actions')
 const networkNames = require('../../../../app/scripts/config.js').networkNames
 const ShapeshiftForm = require('../shapeshift-form')
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 
 const DIRECT_DEPOSIT_ROW_TITLE = t('directDepositEther')
 const DIRECT_DEPOSIT_ROW_TEXT = t('directDepositEtherExplainer')
diff --git a/ui/app/components/modals/edit-account-name-modal.js b/ui/app/components/modals/edit-account-name-modal.js
index 410fac7ba..611def005 100644
--- a/ui/app/components/modals/edit-account-name-modal.js
+++ b/ui/app/components/modals/edit-account-name-modal.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ const inherits = require('util').inherits
 const connect = require('react-redux').connect
 const actions = require('../../actions')
 const { getSelectedAccount } = require('../../selectors')
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 
 function mapStateToProps (state) {
   return {
diff --git a/ui/app/components/modals/export-private-key-modal.js b/ui/app/components/modals/export-private-key-modal.js
index 0745827cb..017177cfd 100644
--- a/ui/app/components/modals/export-private-key-modal.js
+++ b/ui/app/components/modals/export-private-key-modal.js
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ const actions = require('../../actions')
 const AccountModalContainer = require('./account-modal-container')
 const { getSelectedIdentity } = require('../../selectors')
 const ReadOnlyInput = require('../readonly-input')
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 const copyToClipboard = require('copy-to-clipboard')
 
 function mapStateToProps (state) {
diff --git a/ui/app/components/modals/hide-token-confirmation-modal.js b/ui/app/components/modals/hide-token-confirmation-modal.js
index 55f1695af..98b1e2d03 100644
--- a/ui/app/components/modals/hide-token-confirmation-modal.js
+++ b/ui/app/components/modals/hide-token-confirmation-modal.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ const inherits = require('util').inherits
 const connect = require('react-redux').connect
 const actions = require('../../actions')
 const Identicon = require('../identicon')
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 
 function mapStateToProps (state) {
   return {
diff --git a/ui/app/components/modals/modal.js b/ui/app/components/modals/modal.js
index e4e644d40..ea6ac5135 100644
--- a/ui/app/components/modals/modal.js
+++ b/ui/app/components/modals/modal.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ const FadeModal = require('boron').FadeModal
 const actions = require('../../actions')
 const isMobileView = require('../../../lib/is-mobile-view')
 const isPopupOrNotification = require('../../../../app/scripts/lib/is-popup-or-notification')
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 
 // Modal Components
 const BuyOptions = require('./buy-options-modal')
diff --git a/ui/app/components/modals/new-account-modal.js b/ui/app/components/modals/new-account-modal.js
index 4fdfbd745..35f4764a6 100644
--- a/ui/app/components/modals/new-account-modal.js
+++ b/ui/app/components/modals/new-account-modal.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ const PropTypes = require('prop-types')
 const h = require('react-hyperscript')
 const { connect } = require('react-redux')
 const actions = require('../../actions')
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 
 class NewAccountModal extends Component {
   constructor (props) {
diff --git a/ui/app/components/pending-tx/confirm-deploy-contract.js b/ui/app/components/pending-tx/confirm-deploy-contract.js
index 0d8b2721f..e6972c541 100644
--- a/ui/app/components/pending-tx/confirm-deploy-contract.js
+++ b/ui/app/components/pending-tx/confirm-deploy-contract.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ const ethUtil = require('ethereumjs-util')
 const BN = ethUtil.BN
 const hexToBn = require('../../../../app/scripts/lib/hex-to-bn')
 const { conversionUtil } = require('../../conversion-util')
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 
 const { MIN_GAS_PRICE_HEX } = require('../send/send-constants')
 
diff --git a/ui/app/components/pending-tx/confirm-send-ether.js b/ui/app/components/pending-tx/confirm-send-ether.js
index 7608e02ad..52693b4f6 100644
--- a/ui/app/components/pending-tx/confirm-send-ether.js
+++ b/ui/app/components/pending-tx/confirm-send-ether.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ const ethUtil = require('ethereumjs-util')
 const BN = ethUtil.BN
 const hexToBn = require('../../../../app/scripts/lib/hex-to-bn')
 const { conversionUtil, addCurrencies } = require('../../conversion-util')
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 
 const { MIN_GAS_PRICE_HEX } = require('../send/send-constants')
 
diff --git a/ui/app/components/pending-tx/confirm-send-token.js b/ui/app/components/pending-tx/confirm-send-token.js
index 88644d57a..14523461f 100644
--- a/ui/app/components/pending-tx/confirm-send-token.js
+++ b/ui/app/components/pending-tx/confirm-send-token.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ const tokenAbi = require('human-standard-token-abi')
 const abiDecoder = require('abi-decoder')
 abiDecoder.addABI(tokenAbi)
 const actions = require('../../actions')
+const t = require('../../../i18n')
 const clone = require('clone')
 const Identicon = require('../identicon')
 const ethUtil = require('ethereumjs-util')
diff --git a/ui/app/first-time/init-menu.js b/ui/app/first-time/init-menu.js
index c496690a7..6b50bf504 100644
--- a/ui/app/first-time/init-menu.js
+++ b/ui/app/first-time/init-menu.js
@@ -6,17 +6,11 @@ const h = require('react-hyperscript')
 const Mascot = require('../components/mascot')
 const actions = require('../actions')
 const Tooltip = require('../components/tooltip')
+const t = require('../../i18n')
 const getCaretCoordinates = require('textarea-caret')
 
 let isSubmitting = false
 
-let t = chrome.i18n.getMessage || (function() {
-  let msg = require('../../../app/_locales/en/messages.json');
-  return (function(key) {
-    return msg[key].message;
-  });
-})();
-
 module.exports = connect(mapStateToProps)(InitializeMenuScreen)
 
 inherits(InitializeMenuScreen, Component)
diff --git a/ui/i18n.js b/ui/i18n.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e842c9ef9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/i18n.js
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+
+// cross-browser connection to extension i18n API
+
+var getMessage;
+
+if ((chrome && chrome.i18n && chrome.i18n.getMessage) ||
+    (browser && browser.i18n && browser.i18n.getMessage)) {
+  getMessage = (chrome || browser).i18n.getMessage;
+} else {
+  // fallback function
+  console.warn('browser.i18n API not available?');
+  let msg = require('../app/_locales/en/messages.json');
+  getMessage = function(key) {
+    return msg[key].message;
+  });
+}
+
+module.exports = getMessage;