diff --git a/doc/ref/api-data.texi b/doc/ref/api-data.texi
index e519cab60..0c4553f0e 100644
--- a/doc/ref/api-data.texi
+++ b/doc/ref/api-data.texi
@@ -4171,8 +4171,7 @@ using @code{scm_dynwind_free} inside an appropriate dynwind context,
 @deftypefn  {C Function} SCM scm_from_locale_string (const char *str)
 @deftypefnx {C Function} SCM scm_from_locale_stringn (const char *str, size_t len)
 Creates a new Scheme string that has the same contents as @var{str} when
-interpreted in the locale character encoding of the
-@code{current-input-port}.
+interpreted in the character encoding of the current locale.
 
 For @code{scm_from_locale_string}, @var{str} must be null-terminated.
 
@@ -4201,9 +4200,9 @@ can then use @var{str} directly as its internal representation.
 
 @deftypefn  {C Function} {char *} scm_to_locale_string (SCM str)
 @deftypefnx {C Function} {char *} scm_to_locale_stringn (SCM str, size_t *lenp)
-Returns a C string with the same contents as @var{str} in the locale
-encoding of the @code{current-output-port}.  The C string must be freed
-with @code{free} eventually, maybe by using @code{scm_dynwind_free},
+Returns a C string with the same contents as @var{str} in the character
+encoding of the current locale.  The C string must be freed with
+@code{free} eventually, maybe by using @code{scm_dynwind_free},
 @xref{Dynamic Wind}.
 
 For @code{scm_to_locale_string}, the returned string is
@@ -4217,13 +4216,14 @@ returned string will not be null-terminated in this case.  If
 @var{lenp} is @code{NULL}, @code{scm_to_locale_stringn} behaves like
 @code{scm_to_locale_string}.
 
-If a character in @var{str} cannot be represented in the locale encoding
-of the current output port, the port conversion strategy of the current
-output port will determine the result, @xref{Ports}.  If output port's
-conversion strategy is @code{error}, an error will be raised.  If it is
-@code{substitute}, a replacement character, such as a question mark, will
-be inserted in its place.  If it is @code{escape}, a hex escape will be
-inserted in its place.
+If a character in @var{str} cannot be represented in the character
+encoding of the current locale, the default port conversion strategy is
+used.  @xref{Ports}, for more on conversion strategies.
+
+If the conversion strategy is @code{error}, an error will be raised.  If
+it is @code{substitute}, a replacement character, such as a question
+mark, will be inserted in its place.  If it is @code{escape}, a hex
+escape will be inserted in its place.
 @end deftypefn
 
 @deftypefn {C Function} size_t scm_to_locale_stringbuf (SCM str, char *buf, size_t max_len)
diff --git a/libguile/strings.c b/libguile/strings.c
index b13cb780f..6f4004b3d 100644
--- a/libguile/strings.c
+++ b/libguile/strings.c
@@ -1528,25 +1528,8 @@ scm_from_locale_string (const char *str)
 SCM
 scm_from_locale_stringn (const char *str, size_t len)
 {
-  const char *enc;
-  scm_t_string_failed_conversion_handler hndl;
-  SCM inport;
-  scm_t_port *pt;
-
-  inport = scm_current_input_port ();
-  if (!SCM_UNBNDP (inport) && SCM_OPINPORTP (inport))
-    {
-      pt = SCM_PTAB_ENTRY (inport);
-      enc = pt->encoding;
-      hndl = pt->ilseq_handler;
-    }
-  else
-    {
-      enc = NULL;
-      hndl = SCM_FAILED_CONVERSION_ERROR;
-    }
-
-  return scm_from_stringn (str, len, enc, hndl);
+  return scm_from_stringn (str, len, locale_charset (),
+                           scm_i_get_conversion_strategy (SCM_BOOL_F));
 }
 
 SCM
@@ -1771,21 +1754,8 @@ scm_to_locale_string (SCM str)
 char *
 scm_to_locale_stringn (SCM str, size_t *lenp)
 {
-  SCM outport;
-  scm_t_port *pt;
-  const char *enc;
-
-  outport = scm_current_output_port ();
-  if (!SCM_UNBNDP (outport) && SCM_OPOUTPORTP (outport))
-    {
-      pt = SCM_PTAB_ENTRY (outport);
-      enc = pt->encoding;
-    }
-  else
-    enc = NULL;
-
   return scm_to_stringn (str, lenp, 
-                         enc,
+                         locale_charset (),
                          scm_i_get_conversion_strategy (SCM_BOOL_F));
 }