diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 37d3a01c..a97a3e6a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -182,8 +182,10 @@ A new locale has started to load. The `detail` object also contains:
 - `loadingLocale: string`: Code of the locale that has started loading.
 
 A `loading` status can be followed by a `ready`, `error`, or `loading` status.
-It will be followed by another `loading` status in the case that a second locale
-was requested before the first one finished loading.
+
+In the case that a second locale is requested before the first one finishes
+loading, a new `loading` event is dispatched, and no `ready` or `error` event
+will be dispatched for the first request, because it is now stale.
 
 #### `ready`
 
diff --git a/src_client/index.ts b/src_client/index.ts
index d9ccb0e3..e40a36d9 100644
--- a/src_client/index.ts
+++ b/src_client/index.ts
@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ let loadLocale: ((locale: string) => Promise<LocaleModule>) | undefined;
 let configured = false;
 let templates: TemplateMap | undefined;
 let loading = new Deferred<void>();
+let requestId = 0;
 
 /**
  * Set configuration parameters for lit-localize when in runtime mode. Returns
@@ -254,6 +255,8 @@ const setLocale: ((newLocale: string) => void) & {
   if (!validLocales.has(newLocale)) {
     throw new Error('Invalid locale code');
   }
+  requestId++;
+  const thisRequestId = requestId;
   loadingLocale = newLocale;
   if (loading.settled) {
     loading = new Deferred();
@@ -268,7 +271,7 @@ const setLocale: ((newLocale: string) => void) & {
   } else {
     loadLocale(newLocale).then(
       (mod) => {
-        if (newLocale === loadingLocale) {
+        if (requestId === thisRequestId) {
           activeLocale = newLocale;
           loadingLocale = undefined;
           templates = mod.templates;
@@ -281,7 +284,7 @@ const setLocale: ((newLocale: string) => void) & {
         // need to check if the locale is still the one they expected to load.
       },
       (err) => {
-        if (newLocale === loadingLocale) {
+        if (requestId === thisRequestId) {
           loading.reject(err);
           dispatchStatusEvent({
             status: 'error',