diff --git a/CRM/Core/Block.php b/CRM/Core/Block.php
index f7312269acfedb3b7db48c9410dcbe615f9ad0b9..6084d11c9fae14fa92f443c496ab720c68f86367 100644
--- a/CRM/Core/Block.php
+++ b/CRM/Core/Block.php
@@ -562,7 +562,8 @@ class CRM_Core_Block {
       }
       // do nothing
     }
-    elseif (!CRM_Core_Permission::check('access CiviCRM')) {
+    // require 'access CiviCRM' permissons, except for the language switch block
+    elseif (!CRM_Core_Permission::check('access CiviCRM') && $id!=self::LANGSWITCH) {
       return NULL;
     }
     elseif ($id == self::ADD) {