diff --git a/sphinx/builders/latex/__init__.py b/sphinx/builders/latex/__init__.py
index bbbcce0dc..0b31a8bcf 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/latex/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/latex/__init__.py
@@ -34,7 +34,9 @@ from sphinx.util.docutils import SphinxFileOutput, new_document
 from sphinx.util.fileutil import copy_asset_file
 from sphinx.util.nodes import inline_all_toctrees
 from sphinx.util.osutil import SEP, make_filename
-from sphinx.writers.latex import DEFAULT_SETTINGS, LaTeXWriter, LaTeXTranslator
+from sphinx.writers.latex import (
+    ADDITIONAL_SETTINGS, DEFAULT_SETTINGS, LaTeXWriter, LaTeXTranslator
+)
 
 if False:
     # For type annotation
@@ -126,11 +128,14 @@ class LaTeXBuilder(Builder):
 
     def init(self):
         # type: () -> None
+        self.context = {}           # type: Dict[unicode, Any]
         self.docnames = []          # type: Iterable[unicode]
         self.document_data = []     # type: List[Tuple[unicode, unicode, unicode, unicode, unicode, bool]]  # NOQA
         self.usepackages = self.app.registry.latex_packages
         texescape.init()
 
+        self.init_context()
+
     def get_outdated_docs(self):
         # type: () -> Union[unicode, List[unicode]]
         return 'all documents'  # for now
@@ -167,6 +172,31 @@ class LaTeXBuilder(Builder):
                 docname = docname[:-5]
             self.titles.append((docname, entry[2]))
 
+    def init_context(self):
+        # type: () -> None
+        self.context = DEFAULT_SETTINGS.copy()
+
+        # Add special settings for latex_engine
+        self.context.update(ADDITIONAL_SETTINGS.get(self.config.latex_engine, {}))
+
+        # for xelatex+French, don't use polyglossia by default
+        if self.config.latex_engine == 'xelatex':
+            if self.config.language:
+                if self.config.language[:2] == 'fr':
+                    self.context['polyglossia'] = ''
+                    self.context['babel'] = r'\usepackage{babel}'
+
+        # Apply user settings to context
+        self.context.update(self.config.latex_elements)
+        self.context['release'] = self.config.release
+        self.context['use_xindy'] = self.config.latex_use_xindy
+
+        # for compatibilities
+        self.context['indexname'] = _('Index')
+        if self.config.release:
+            # Show the release label only if release value exists
+            self.context['releasename'] = _('Release')
+
     def write_stylesheet(self):
         # type: () -> None
         highlighter = highlighting.PygmentsBridge('latex', self.config.pygments_style)
@@ -210,6 +240,8 @@ class LaTeXBuilder(Builder):
             doctree['tocdepth'] = tocdepth
             self.apply_transforms(doctree)
             self.post_process_images(doctree)
+            self.update_doc_context(title, author)
+
             logger.info(__("writing... "), nonl=1)
             doctree.settings = docsettings
             doctree.settings.author = author
@@ -231,6 +263,11 @@ class LaTeXBuilder(Builder):
 
         return contentsname
 
+    def update_doc_context(self, title, author):
+        # type: (unicode, unicode) -> None
+        self.context['title'] = title
+        self.context['author'] = author
+
     def assemble_doctree(self, indexfile, toctree_only, appendices):
         # type: (unicode, bool, List[unicode]) -> nodes.Node
         from docutils import nodes  # NOQA
diff --git a/sphinx/templates/latex/latex.tex_t b/sphinx/templates/latex/latex.tex_t
index d219f8525..41c1e71b5 100644
--- a/sphinx/templates/latex/latex.tex_t
+++ b/sphinx/templates/latex/latex.tex_t
@@ -47,11 +47,15 @@
 \release{<%= release %>}
 \author{<%= author %>}
 \newcommand{\sphinxlogo}{<%= logo %>}
-\renewcommand{\releasename}{<%= releasename %>}
+<%- if releasename or release %>
+\renewcommand{\releasename}{<%= releasename or _('Release') %>}
+<%- else %>
+\renewcommand{\releasename}{}
+<%- endif %>
 <%= makeindex %>
 <%= body %>
 <%= atendofbody %>
 <%= indices %>
-\renewcommand{\indexname}{<%= indexname %>}
+\renewcommand{\indexname}{<%= _('Index') %>}
 <%= printindex %>
 \end{document}
diff --git a/sphinx/writers/latex.py b/sphinx/writers/latex.py
index 1cd5d1d7e..7fc7a811b 100644
--- a/sphinx/writers/latex.py
+++ b/sphinx/writers/latex.py
@@ -487,33 +487,10 @@ class LaTeXTranslator(nodes.NodeVisitor):
         self.first_param = 0
 
         # sort out some elements
-        self.elements = DEFAULT_SETTINGS.copy()
-        self.elements.update(ADDITIONAL_SETTINGS.get(builder.config.latex_engine, {}))
-        # for xelatex+French, don't use polyglossia
-        if self.elements['latex_engine'] == 'xelatex':
-            if builder.config.language:
-                if builder.config.language[:2] == 'fr':
-                    self.elements.update({
-                        'polyglossia': '',
-                        'babel':       '\\usepackage{babel}',
-                    })
-        # allow the user to override them all
-        self.elements.update(builder.config.latex_elements)
+        self.elements = builder.context.copy()
 
         # but some have other interface in config file
-        self.elements.update({
-            'wrapperclass': self.format_docclass(document.settings.docclass),
-            # if empty, the title is set to the first section title
-            'title':        document.settings.title,    # treat as a raw LaTeX code
-            'release':      self.encode(builder.config.release),
-            'author':       document.settings.author,   # treat as a raw LaTeX code
-            'indexname':    _('Index'),
-            'use_xindy':    builder.config.latex_use_xindy,
-        })
-        if not self.elements['releasename'] and self.elements['release']:
-            self.elements.update({
-                'releasename':  _('Release'),
-            })
+        self.elements['wrapperclass'] = self.format_docclass(document.settings.docclass)
 
         # we assume LaTeX class provides \chapter command except in case
         # of non-Japanese 'howto' case
diff --git a/tests/test_build_latex.py b/tests/test_build_latex.py
index 8075bf8d0..cad85272d 100644
--- a/tests/test_build_latex.py
+++ b/tests/test_build_latex.py
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ def skip_if_stylefiles_notfound(testfunc):
 def test_build_latex_doc(app, status, warning, engine, docclass):
     app.config.latex_engine = engine
     app.config.latex_documents[0] = app.config.latex_documents[0][:4] + (docclass,)
+    app.builder.init_context()
 
     LaTeXTranslator.ignore_missing_images = True
     app.builder.build_all()
diff --git a/tests/test_markup.py b/tests/test_markup.py
index 802202639..0f401306b 100644
--- a/tests/test_markup.py
+++ b/tests/test_markup.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from docutils.parsers.rst import Parser as RstParser
 from docutils.transforms.universal import SmartQuotes
 
 from sphinx import addnodes
+from sphinx.builders.latex import LaTeXBuilder
 from sphinx.testing.util import assert_node
 from sphinx.util import texescape
 from sphinx.util.docutils import sphinx_domains
@@ -87,6 +88,9 @@ def verify_re_html(app, parse):
 def verify_re_latex(app, parse):
     def verify(rst, latex_expected):
         document = parse(rst)
+        app.builder = LaTeXBuilder(app)
+        app.builder.set_environment(app.env)
+        app.builder.init_context()
         latex_translator = ForgivingLaTeXTranslator(document, app.builder)
         latex_translator.first_document = -1  # don't write \begin{document}
         document.walkabout(latex_translator)