Index: wp-includes/general-template.php
===================================================================
--- wp-includes/general-template.php	(revision 10829)
+++ wp-includes/general-template.php	(working copy)
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@
 			break;
 		case 'text_direction':
 			global $wp_locale;
-			$output = $wp_locale->text_direction;
+			$output = ( is_object($wp_locale) ) ? $wp_locale->text_direction : '';
 			break;
 		case 'name':
 		default: