diff --git a/src/ifcbimtester/README.md b/src/ifcbimtester/README.md
index a02d4bf267..162b355806 100644
--- a/src/ifcbimtester/README.md
+++ b/src/ifcbimtester/README.md
@@ -16,3 +16,14 @@ python3 ./bimtester.py -g
 `$ pyinstaller --onefile --clean --icon=icon.ico --add-data "features:features" bimtester.py`
 + Windows:
  `$ pyinstaller --onefile --clean --icon=icon.ico --add-data "features;features" bimtester.py`
+
+
+### Translation files
++ the binary mo translation files are not part of the repo
++ they might be needed to be recreated
++ use the following commands on Linux
+```
+cd YourIfcopenshellRepository/src/ifcbimtester/bimtester/locale
+pybabel compile -d .
+
+```
diff --git a/src/ifcbimtester/bimtester/locale/de/LC_MESSAGES/messages.mo b/src/ifcbimtester/bimtester/locale/de/LC_MESSAGES/messages.mo
deleted file mode 100644
index f95ef3bb99..0000000000
Binary files a/src/ifcbimtester/bimtester/locale/de/LC_MESSAGES/messages.mo and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/src/ifcbimtester/bimtester/locale/en/LC_MESSAGES/messages.mo b/src/ifcbimtester/bimtester/locale/en/LC_MESSAGES/messages.mo
deleted file mode 100644
index a8c96e9449..0000000000
Binary files a/src/ifcbimtester/bimtester/locale/en/LC_MESSAGES/messages.mo and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/src/ifcbimtester/bimtester/locale/fr/LC_MESSAGES/messages.mo b/src/ifcbimtester/bimtester/locale/fr/LC_MESSAGES/messages.mo
deleted file mode 100644
index 7f24af08f3..0000000000
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