diff --git a/meta/lib/oe/package.py b/meta/lib/oe/package.py
index 702d8403be..cb6893f3c2 100644
--- a/meta/lib/oe/package.py
+++ b/meta/lib/oe/package.py
@@ -647,8 +647,11 @@ def split_locales(d):
     dvar = d.getVar('PKGD')
     pn = d.getVar('LOCALEBASEPN')
 
-    if pn + '-locale' in packages:
-        packages.remove(pn + '-locale')
+    try:
+        locale_index = packages.index(pn + '-locale')
+        packages.pop(locale_index)
+    except ValueError:
+        locale_index = len(packages)
 
     localedir = os.path.join(dvar + datadir, 'locale')
 
@@ -665,7 +668,8 @@ def split_locales(d):
     for l in sorted(locales):
         ln = legitimize_package_name(l)
         pkg = pn + '-locale-' + ln
-        packages.append(pkg)
+        packages.insert(locale_index, pkg)
+        locale_index += 1
         d.setVar('FILES:' + pkg, os.path.join(datadir, 'locale', l))
         d.setVar('RRECOMMENDS:' + pkg, '%svirtual-locale-%s' % (mlprefix, ln))
         d.setVar('RPROVIDES:' + pkg, '%s-locale %s%s-translation' % (pn, mlprefix, ln))