diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Foundation/helpers.php b/src/Illuminate/Foundation/helpers.php
index 9a61616d919f..4b017433fe21 100644
--- a/src/Illuminate/Foundation/helpers.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Foundation/helpers.php
@@ -461,7 +461,11 @@ function event(...$args)
      */
     function fake($locale = null)
     {
-        $locale ??= app('config')->get('app.faker_locale') ?? 'en_US';
+        if (app()->bound('config')) {
+            $locale ??= app('config')->get('app.faker_locale');
+        }
+
+        $locale ??= 'en_US';
 
         $abstract = \Faker\Generator::class.':'.$locale;