diff --git a/src/default.nix b/src/default.nix
index 58290183..ad3b3ce8 100644
--- a/src/default.nix
+++ b/src/default.nix
@@ -477,7 +477,10 @@ in let
             translator =
               if
                 (project ? translator)
-                && l.any (t: project.translator == t) project.translators
+                && (
+                  (! project ? translators)
+                  || (l.any (t: project.translator == t) project.translators)
+                )
               then project.translator
               else l.head project.translators;
           };