diff --git a/translate.lua b/translate.lua
index 5aa1b3c..33d0601 100644
--- a/translate.lua
+++ b/translate.lua
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ function load_mo_file(mo_file)
     hash[sub(mo_data,oo+1,oo+ol)]=sub(mo_data,to+1,to+tl)
   end
   return function(text)
-    return hash[text] or text
+    return hash[text]
   end
 end
 
@@ -75,5 +75,8 @@ if LANG == translate.source then
     return text;
   end;
 else
-  __ = load_mo_file(LANG..'.mo');
+  translate.strings = load_mo_file(LANG..'.mo');
+  __ = function(text)
+    return translate.strings[text];
+  end
 end