diff --git a/lib/utils/transcription-utils.js b/lib/utils/transcription-utils.js
index c600dc1f..420e5750 100644
--- a/lib/utils/transcription-utils.js
+++ b/lib/utils/transcription-utils.js
@@ -316,8 +316,10 @@ const normalizeIbm = (evt, channel, language) => {
 
 const normalizeGoogle = (evt, channel, language) => {
   const copy = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(evt));
+  const language_code = evt.language_code || language;
+
   return {
-    language_code: language,
+    language_code: language_code,
     channel_tag: channel,
     is_final: evt.is_final,
     alternatives: [evt.alternatives[0]],