diff --git a/include/sane/sanei_backend.h b/include/sane/sanei_backend.h
index 22cd0b61d..bb1e88a1e 100644
--- a/include/sane/sanei_backend.h
+++ b/include/sane/sanei_backend.h
@@ -110,3 +110,11 @@ extern void ENTRY(exit) (void);
 #define sane_close(a)                   ENTRY(close) (a)
 #define sane_exit(a)                    ENTRY(exit) (a)
 #endif /* STUBS */
+
+/* Internationalization for SANE backends
+   Add SANE_I18N() to all texts that can be translated.
+   E.g. out_txt = SANE_I18N("Hello"); */
+
+#ifndef SANE_I18N
+#define SANE_I18N(text) text
+#endif