diff --git a/web/packages/base/locales/en-US/translation.json b/web/packages/base/locales/en-US/translation.json
index 59fbee4b9d..f824067469 100644
--- a/web/packages/base/locales/en-US/translation.json
+++ b/web/packages/base/locales/en-US/translation.json
@@ -228,6 +228,8 @@
     "indexing_fetching": "Fetching indexes ({{nSyncedFiles, number}} / {{nTotalFiles, number}})",
     "indexing_people": "Indexing people in {{nSyncedFiles, number}} photos...",
     "indexing_done": "Indexed {{nSyncedFiles, number}} photos",
+    "syncing_wait": "Syncing...",
+    "people_empty_too_few": "People will be shown here when there are sufficient photos of a person",
     "INFO": "Info ",
     "INFO_OPTION": "Info (I)",
     "file_name": "File name",
diff --git a/web/packages/new/photos/components/gallery/index.tsx b/web/packages/new/photos/components/gallery/index.tsx
index 6b4515874a..9b35c445ba 100644
--- a/web/packages/new/photos/components/gallery/index.tsx
+++ b/web/packages/new/photos/components/gallery/index.tsx
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
  * there.
  */
 
-import { pt } from "@/base/i18n";
 import type { SearchOption } from "@/new/photos/services/search/types";
 import { VerticallyCentered } from "@ente/shared/components/Container";
 import { Typography } from "@mui/material";
@@ -49,10 +48,8 @@ export const PeopleEmptyState: React.FC = () => {
 
     const message =
         mlStatus?.phase == "done"
-            ? pt(
-                  "People will be shown here when there are sufficient photos of a person",
-              )
-            : pt("Syncing...");
+            ? t("people_empty_too_few")
+            : t("syncing_wait");
 
     return (
         <VerticallyCentered>