diff --git a/fastboot/usb_linux.c b/fastboot/usb_linux.c
index 1ba87e6..cbc64e4 100644
--- a/fastboot/usb_linux.c
+++ b/fastboot/usb_linux.c
@@ -139,10 +139,11 @@
         ctrl.bRequestType = USB_DIR_IN|USB_TYPE_STANDARD|USB_RECIP_DEVICE;
         ctrl.bRequest = USB_REQ_GET_DESCRIPTOR;
         ctrl.wValue = (USB_DT_STRING << 8) | dev->iSerialNumber;
-        ctrl.wIndex = 0;
+        //language ID (en-us) for serial number string
+        ctrl.wIndex = 0x0409;
         ctrl.wLength = sizeof(buffer);
         ctrl.data = buffer;
-	ctrl.timeout = 50;
+        ctrl.timeout = 50;
 
         result = ioctl(fd, USBDEVFS_CONTROL, &ctrl);
         if (result > 0) {
diff --git a/fastboot/usb_osx.c b/fastboot/usb_osx.c
index 570a456..6df5d2c 100644
--- a/fastboot/usb_osx.c
+++ b/fastboot/usb_osx.c
@@ -331,7 +331,8 @@
         req.bmRequestType = USBmakebmRequestType(kUSBIn, kUSBStandard, kUSBDevice);
         req.bRequest = kUSBRqGetDescriptor;
         req.wValue = (kUSBStringDesc << 8) | serialIndex;
-        req.wIndex = 0;
+        //language ID (en-us) for serial number string
+        req.wIndex = 0x0409;
         req.pData = buffer;
         req.wLength = sizeof(buffer);
         kr = (*dev)->DeviceRequest(dev, &req);