diff --git a/docs/markdown/i18n-module.md b/docs/markdown/i18n-module.md
index b4e40d74b..9388be870 100644
--- a/docs/markdown/i18n-module.md
+++ b/docs/markdown/i18n-module.md
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ This function also defines targets for maintainers to use:
 This merges translations into a text file using `msgfmt`. See [custom_target](https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/wiki/Reference%20manual#custom_target) for normal keywords. In addition it accepts these keywords:
 
 * `po_dir`: directory containing translations, relative to current directory
+* `data_dirs`: (*Added 0.41.0*) list of directories for its files (See also `i18n.gettext()`)
 * `type`: type of file, valid options are `'xml'` (default) and `'desktop'`
 
 *Added 0.37.0*
diff --git a/mesonbuild/mesonmain.py b/mesonbuild/mesonmain.py
index b997715e8..bce096567 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/mesonmain.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/mesonmain.py
@@ -222,6 +222,9 @@ def run_script_command(args):
     elif cmdname == 'gtkdoc':
         import mesonbuild.scripts.gtkdochelper as abc
         cmdfunc = abc.run
+    elif cmdname == 'msgfmthelper':
+        import mesonbuild.scripts.msgfmthelper as abc
+        cmdfunc = abc.run
     elif cmdname == 'regencheck':
         import mesonbuild.scripts.regen_checker as abc
         cmdfunc = abc.run
diff --git a/mesonbuild/modules/i18n.py b/mesonbuild/modules/i18n.py
index 5738cb3c4..c4e29cf13 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/modules/i18n.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/modules/i18n.py
@@ -49,6 +49,12 @@ PRESET_ARGS = {
 
 class I18nModule(ExtensionModule):
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _get_data_dirs(state, dirs):
+        """Returns source directories of relative paths"""
+        src_dir = path.join(state.environment.get_source_dir(), state.subdir)
+        return [path.join(src_dir, d) for d in dirs]
+
     def merge_file(self, state, args, kwargs):
         podir = kwargs.pop('po_dir', None)
         if not podir:
@@ -60,8 +66,15 @@ class I18nModule(ExtensionModule):
         if file_type not in VALID_TYPES:
             raise MesonException('i18n: "{}" is not a valid type {}'.format(file_type, VALID_TYPES))
 
-        kwargs['command'] = ['msgfmt', '--' + file_type,
-                             '--template', '@INPUT@', '-d', podir, '-o', '@OUTPUT@']
+        datadirs = self._get_data_dirs(state, mesonlib.stringlistify(kwargs.pop('data_dirs', [])))
+        datadirs = '--datadirs=' + ':'.join(datadirs) if datadirs else None
+
+        command = [state.environment.get_build_command(), '--internal', 'msgfmthelper',
+                   '@INPUT@', '@OUTPUT@', file_type, podir]
+        if datadirs:
+            command.append(datadirs)
+
+        kwargs['command'] = command
         ct = build.CustomTarget(kwargs['output'] + '_merge', state.subdir, kwargs)
         return ModuleReturnValue(ct, [ct])
 
@@ -72,7 +85,7 @@ class I18nModule(ExtensionModule):
             raise coredata.MesonException('Can not do gettext because xgettext is not installed.')
         packagename = args[0]
         languages = mesonlib.stringlistify(kwargs.get('languages', []))
-        datadirs = mesonlib.stringlistify(kwargs.get('data_dirs', []))
+        datadirs = self._get_data_dirs(state, mesonlib.stringlistify(kwargs.get('data_dirs', [])))
         extra_args = mesonlib.stringlistify(kwargs.get('args', []))
 
         preset = kwargs.pop('preset', None)
diff --git a/mesonbuild/scripts/msgfmthelper.py b/mesonbuild/scripts/msgfmthelper.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d4deb0051
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mesonbuild/scripts/msgfmthelper.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# Copyright 2016 The Meson development team
+
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+import argparse
+import subprocess
+import os
+
+parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+parser.add_argument('input')
+parser.add_argument('output')
+parser.add_argument('type')
+parser.add_argument('podir')
+parser.add_argument('--datadirs', default='')
+
+
+def run(args):
+    options = parser.parse_args(args)
+    env = None
+    if options.datadirs:
+        env = os.environ.copy()
+        env.update({'GETTEXTDATADIRS': options.datadirs})
+    return subprocess.call(['msgfmt', '--' + options.type, '-d', options.podir,
+                            '--template', options.input,  '-o', options.output],
+                           env=env)