diff --git a/dmenu.c b/dmenu.c
index f803149..7666f81 100644
--- a/dmenu.c
+++ b/dmenu.c
@@ -666,6 +666,10 @@ setup(void)
 
 	/* open input methods */
 	xim = XOpenIM(dpy, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+	if (!xim) {
+		XSetLocaleModifiers("@im=local");
+		xim = XOpenIM(dpy, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+	}
 	xic = XCreateIC(xim, XNInputStyle, XIMPreeditNothing | XIMStatusNothing,
 	                XNClientWindow, win, XNFocusWindow, win, NULL);