diff --git a/lib/globalize.js b/lib/globalize.js
index 79a24bdc..06009c5d 100755
--- a/lib/globalize.js
+++ b/lib/globalize.js
@@ -100,6 +100,14 @@ function formatMessage(path, variables) {
         '*** %s not found for %s.  Fall back to: "%s" ***',
         path, lang, message
       );
+      if (typeof variables === 'string' ||
+          (Array.isArray(variables) && variables.length > 0)) {
+        var sanitizedMsg = message
+          .replace(/}}/g, '')
+          .replace(/{{/g, '')
+          .replace(/%[sdj]/g, '%s');
+        message = util.format.apply(util, [sanitizedMsg].concat(variables));
+      }
     };
   }
   return message;