      */
     private function localeChanged():void
     {
-        const newlocaleStyle:String = getStyle("locale");
-
-        if (localeStyle == newlocaleStyle)
+        const newlocaleStyle:*= getStyle("locale") ;
+
+        if (localeStyle !== undefined && localeStyle == newlocaleStyle)
             return;
 
         localeStyle = newlocaleStyle;

        // following such rule here. We update the lastOperationStatus only when
        // locale is undefined.

        if (!localeStyle)
        {
            fallbackLastOperationStatus
                                = LastOperationStatus.LOCALE_UNDEFINED_ERROR;

     *  The code needs be able to find out if the locale style has been changed
     *  from earlier.
     */
    mx_internal var localeStyle:* = undefined;

    /**
     *  @private
