diff --git a/src/pretix/base/i18n.py b/src/pretix/base/i18n.py
index 2c7bf8123a..f509204f1f 100644
--- a/src/pretix/base/i18n.py
+++ b/src/pretix/base/i18n.py
@@ -37,10 +37,13 @@ class LazyI18nString:
         This will rather return you a string in a wrong language than give you an
         empty value.
         """
+        return self.localize(translation.get_language())
+
+    def localize(self, lng):
         if self.data is None:
             return ""
+
         if isinstance(self.data, dict):
-            lng = translation.get_language()
             firstpart = lng.split('-')[0]
             similar = [l for l in self.data.keys() if l.startswith(firstpart + "-")]
             if lng in self.data and self.data[lng]:
diff --git a/src/pretix/base/services/mail.py b/src/pretix/base/services/mail.py
index de6c46cd5d..e6a35c52a2 100644
--- a/src/pretix/base/services/mail.py
+++ b/src/pretix/base/services/mail.py
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ def mail(email: str, subject: str, template: str,
 
         body += "\r\n\r\n----\r\n"
         body += _(
-            "You are receiving this e-mail because you placed an order for %s." % event.name
-        )
+            "You are receiving this e-mail because you placed an order for {event}."
+        ).format(event=event.name)
         body += "\r\n"
     try:
         return mail_send([email], subject, body, sender, event.id if event else None)