diff --git a/conf/locale/config.yaml b/conf/locale/config.yaml
index b4c47766bd..6bef9cd9e1 100644
--- a/conf/locale/config.yaml
+++ b/conf/locale/config.yaml
@@ -32,6 +32,17 @@ locales:
 # The locale used for fake-accented English, for testing.
 dummy-locale: eo
 
+# Source files that should be used for generating dummy strings
+dummy_sources:
+    - django-partial.po
+    - django-studio.po
+    - django.po
+    - djangojs-studio.po
+    - djangojs.po
+    - mako-studio.po
+    - mako.po
+    - messages.po
+
 # Directories we don't search for strings.
 ignore_dirs:
     - docs
diff --git a/i18n/config.py b/i18n/config.py
index 3828578b5b..3aa435750f 100644
--- a/i18n/config.py
+++ b/i18n/config.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ class Configuration(object):
         'locales': ['en'],
         'segment': {},
         'source_locale': 'en',
+        'dummy_sources': [],
     }
 
     def __init__(self, filename):
diff --git a/i18n/make_dummy.py b/i18n/make_dummy.py
index 13ccef5ef3..27ec378bc0 100755
--- a/i18n/make_dummy.py
+++ b/i18n/make_dummy.py
@@ -6,21 +6,23 @@
 # two letter language codes reference:
 # see http://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/code_list.php
 #
+# po files to turn into dummy strings are specified in configuration file
+#
 # Django will not localize in languages that django itself has not been
 # localized for. So we are using a well-known language (default='eo').
 # Django languages are listed in django.conf.global_settings.LANGUAGES
 #
 # po files can be generated with this:
 # django-admin.py makemessages --all --extension html -l en
-
+#
 # Usage:
 #
-# $ ./make_dummy.py <sourcefile>
-#
-# $ ./make_dummy.py ../conf/locale/en/LC_MESSAGES/django.po
+# $ ./make_dummy.py
 #
 # generates output to
-#    edx-platform/conf/locale/eo/LC_MESSAGES/django.po
+#    CONFIGURATION.get_messages_dir(CONFIGURATION.dummy_locale)
+# (for example,
+#    edx-platform/conf/locale/eo/LC_MESSAGES/)
 
 import os, sys
 import polib
@@ -59,12 +61,10 @@ def new_filename(original_filename, new_locale):
     return os.path.abspath(os.path.join(orig_dir, '../..', new_locale, msgs_dir, orig_file))
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    # required arg: file
-    if len(sys.argv) < 2:
-        raise Exception("missing file argument")
-    # optional arg: locale
-    if len(sys.argv) < 3:
-        locale = CONFIGURATION.get_dummy_locale()
-    else:
-        locale = sys.argv[2]
-    main(sys.argv[1], locale)
+    LOCALE = CONFIGURATION.dummy_locale
+    SOURCE_MSGS_DIR = CONFIGURATION.source_messages_dir
+    print "Processing source language files into dummy strings:",
+    for source_file in CONFIGURATION.dummy_sources:
+        print source_file,
+        main(SOURCE_MSGS_DIR.joinpath(source_file), LOCALE)
+    print
diff --git a/rakelib/i18n.rake b/rakelib/i18n.rake
index f59af8ea64..4f76ca34a7 100644
--- a/rakelib/i18n.rake
+++ b/rakelib/i18n.rake
@@ -14,12 +14,7 @@ namespace :i18n do
 
   desc "Simulate international translation by generating dummy strings corresponding to source strings."
   task :dummy do
-    source_files = Dir["#{REPO_ROOT}/conf/locale/en/LC_MESSAGES/*.po"]
-    dummy_locale = 'eo'
-    cmd = File.join(REPO_ROOT, "i18n", "make_dummy.py")
-    for file in source_files do
-      sh("#{cmd} #{file} #{dummy_locale}")
-    end
+    sh(File.join(REPO_ROOT, "i18n", "make_dummy.py"))
   end
 
   namespace :validate do