diff --git a/service.go b/service.go
index c228757..d2d899f 100644
--- a/service.go
+++ b/service.go
@@ -475,14 +475,22 @@ func (s *Service) getEffectiveContextGenderLocationAndFormality(data any) (strin
 		if formality == FormalityNeutral {
 			formality = s.formality
 		}
-		return ctx.ContextString(), ctx.GenderString(), ctx.LocationString(), formality
+		location := ctx.LocationString()
+		if location == "" {
+			location = s.location
+		}
+		return ctx.ContextString(), ctx.GenderString(), location, formality
 	}
 	if subj, ok := data.(*Subject); ok && subj != nil {
 		formality := subj.formality
 		if formality == FormalityNeutral {
 			formality = s.formality
 		}
-		return "", subj.gender, subj.location, formality
+		location := subj.location
+		if location == "" {
+			location = s.location
+		}
+		return "", subj.gender, location, formality
 	}
 	if m, ok := data.(map[string]any); ok {
 		var context string
diff --git a/service_test.go b/service_test.go
index 685065e..8b7179d 100644
--- a/service_test.go
+++ b/service_test.go
@@ -626,6 +626,38 @@ func TestServiceDefaultLocationContext(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestServiceDefaultLocationAppliesToTranslationContext(t *testing.T) {
+	svc, err := New()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("New() failed: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	svc.AddMessages("en", map[string]string{
+		"welcome._greeting._workspace": "hello from workspace",
+	})
+	svc.SetLocation("workspace")
+
+	if got := svc.T("welcome", C("greeting")); got != "hello from workspace" {
+		t.Errorf("T(welcome, C(greeting)) with default location = %q, want %q", got, "hello from workspace")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestServiceDefaultLocationAppliesToSubject(t *testing.T) {
+	svc, err := New()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("New() failed: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	svc.AddMessages("en", map[string]string{
+		"welcome._workspace": "welcome aboard",
+	})
+	svc.SetLocation("workspace")
+
+	if got := svc.T("welcome", S("user", "Alice")); got != "welcome aboard" {
+		t.Errorf("T(welcome, Subject) with default location = %q, want %q", got, "welcome aboard")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestServiceTranslationContextExtrasInTemplates(t *testing.T) {
 	svc, err := New()
 	if err != nil {