diff --git a/pywb/apps/frontendapp.py b/pywb/apps/frontendapp.py
index 35adf401..ac942c06 100644
--- a/pywb/apps/frontendapp.py
+++ b/pywb/apps/frontendapp.py
@@ -91,8 +91,6 @@ class FrontEndApp(object):
 
         self.cdx_api_endpoint = config.get('cdx_api_endpoint', '/cdx')
 
-        self._init_routes()
-
         upstream_paths = self.get_upstream_paths(self.warcserver_server.port)
 
         framed_replay = config.get('framed_replay', True)
@@ -106,6 +104,8 @@ class FrontEndApp(object):
         metadata_templ = os.path.join(self.warcserver.root_dir, '{coll}', 'metadata.yaml')
         self.metadata_cache = MetadataCache(metadata_templ)
 
+        self._init_routes()
+
     def _init_routes(self):
         """Initialize the routes and based on the configuration file makes available
         specific routes (proxy mode, record)"""
@@ -500,6 +500,11 @@ class FrontEndApp(object):
             # store original script_name (original prefix) before modifications are made
             environ['pywb.app_prefix'] = environ.get('SCRIPT_NAME', '')
 
+            lang = args.pop('lang', '')
+            if lang:
+                pop_path_info(environ)
+                environ['pywb_lang'] = lang
+
             response = endpoint(environ, **args)
 
         except HTTPException as hte: