diff --git a/tests/role_deploy_database_server.pm b/tests/role_deploy_database_server.pm
index 7d81c3ac..6cf618fe 100644
--- a/tests/role_deploy_database_server.pm
+++ b/tests/role_deploy_database_server.pm
@@ -16,7 +16,12 @@ sub run {
     assert_script_run "firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service postgresql";
     assert_script_run "systemctl restart firewalld.service";
     # init the db
-    assert_script_run "/usr/bin/postgresql-setup --initdb";
+    if (script_run "/usr/bin/postgresql-setup --initdb") {
+        # see if this is RHBZ #1872511...
+        script_run "dnf -y install glibc-langpack-en", 180;
+        assert_script_run "/usr/bin/postgresql-setup --initdb";
+        record_soft_failure "postgresql-setup initially failed due to missing langpack - RHBZ #1872511";
+    }
     # enable and start the systemd service
     assert_script_run "systemctl enable postgresql.service";
     assert_script_run "systemctl start postgresql.service";