diff --git a/system/locale_gen.py b/system/locale_gen.py
index 70b83be88aa..5d53951cf18 100644
--- a/system/locale_gen.py
+++ b/system/locale_gen.py
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ def main():
     module = AnsibleModule(
         argument_spec = dict(
             name = dict(required=True),
-            state = dict(choices=['present','absent'], required=True),
+            state = dict(choices=['present','absent'], default='present'),
         ),
         supports_check_mode=True
     )