diff --git a/.github/workflows/l10n.yml b/.github/workflows/l10n.yml
index c8ba5f74faf..0254b6e98b5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/l10n.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/l10n.yml
@@ -1118,6 +1118,29 @@ jobs:
       env:
         RUST_BACKTRACE: "1"
 
+  l10n_embedded_locale_regression_test:
+    name: L10n/Embedded Locale Regression Test
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      SCCACHE_GHA_ENABLED: "true"
+      RUSTC_WRAPPER: "sccache"
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      with:
+        persist-credentials: false
+    - uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
+    - uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@v2
+    - name: Run sccache-cache
+      uses: mozilla-actions/sccache-action@v0.0.9
+    - name: Install/setup prerequisites
+      shell: bash
+      run: |
+        sudo apt-get -y update && sudo apt-get -y install libselinux1-dev
+    - name: Test embedded locale functionality for individual utilities
+      shell: bash
+      run: |
+        bash util/test_locale_regression.sh
+
   l10n_locale_embedding_regression_test:
     name: L10n/Locale Embedding Regression Test
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
diff --git a/src/uucore/build.rs b/src/uucore/build.rs
index 1fa88d93c04..29ffb2d86dc 100644
--- a/src/uucore/build.rs
+++ b/src/uucore/build.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ pub fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     let out_dir = env::var("OUT_DIR")?;
 
     let mut embedded_file = File::create(Path::new(&out_dir).join("embedded_locales.rs"))?;
-
     writeln!(embedded_file, "// Generated at compile time - do not edit")?;
     writeln!(
         embedded_file,
@@ -78,6 +77,14 @@ fn detect_target_utility() -> Option<String> {
         }
     }
 
+    // Auto-detect utility name from CARGO_PKG_NAME if it's a uu_* package
+    if let Ok(pkg_name) = env::var("CARGO_PKG_NAME") {
+        if let Some(util_name) = pkg_name.strip_prefix("uu_") {
+            println!("cargo:warning=Auto-detected utility name: {}", util_name);
+            return Some(util_name.to_string());
+        }
+    }
+
     // Check for a build configuration file in the target directory
     if let Ok(target_dir) = env::var("CARGO_TARGET_DIR") {
         let config_path = std::path::Path::new(&target_dir).join("uucore_target_util.txt");
@@ -156,6 +163,9 @@ fn embed_all_utilities_locales(
     // Discover all uu_* directories
     let src_uu_dir = project_root.join("src/uu");
     if !src_uu_dir.exists() {
+        // When src/uu doesn't exist (e.g., standalone uucore from crates.io),
+        // embed a static list of utility locales that are commonly used
+        embed_static_utility_locales(embedded_file)?;
         return Ok(());
     }
 
@@ -202,3 +212,60 @@ fn embed_all_utilities_locales(
     embedded_file.flush()?;
     Ok(())
 }
+
+fn embed_static_utility_locales(
+    embedded_file: &mut std::fs::File,
+) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
+    use std::env;
+
+    writeln!(
+        embedded_file,
+        "    // Static utility locales for crates.io builds"
+    )?;
+
+    let manifest_dir = env::var("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR").unwrap_or_default();
+    let Some(registry_dir) = Path::new(&manifest_dir).parent() else {
+        return Ok(()); // nothing to scan
+    };
+
+    // First, try to embed uucore locales - critical for common translations like "Usage:"
+    let uucore_locale_file = Path::new(&manifest_dir).join("locales/en-US.ftl");
+    if uucore_locale_file.is_file() {
+        let content = std::fs::read_to_string(&uucore_locale_file)?;
+        writeln!(embedded_file, "    // Common uucore locale")?;
+        writeln!(
+            embedded_file,
+            "    locales.insert(\"uucore/en-US.ftl\", r###\"{content}\"###);"
+        )?;
+        writeln!(embedded_file)?;
+    }
+
+    // Collect and sort for deterministic builds
+    let mut entries: Vec<_> = std::fs::read_dir(registry_dir)?
+        .filter_map(Result::ok)
+        .collect();
+    entries.sort_by_key(|e| e.file_name());
+
+    for entry in entries {
+        let file_name = entry.file_name();
+        if let Some(dir_name) = file_name.to_str() {
+            // Match uu_<util>-<version>
+            if let Some((util_part, _)) = dir_name.split_once('-') {
+                if let Some(util_name) = util_part.strip_prefix("uu_") {
+                    let locale_file = entry.path().join("locales/en-US.ftl");
+                    if locale_file.is_file() {
+                        let content = std::fs::read_to_string(&locale_file)?;
+                        writeln!(embedded_file, "    // Locale for {util_name}")?;
+                        writeln!(
+                            embedded_file,
+                            "    locales.insert(\"{util_name}/en-US.ftl\", r###\"{content}\"###);"
+                        )?;
+                        writeln!(embedded_file)?;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/util/test_locale_regression.sh b/util/test_locale_regression.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..090a3eef05b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util/test_locale_regression.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+echo "Testing embedded locale functionality to prevent crates.io regression..."
+INSTALL_DIR="$(pwd)/test-install-dir"
+rm -rf "$INSTALL_DIR"
+mkdir -p "$INSTALL_DIR"
+utilities_to_test=("cp" "mv" "ln")
+
+for util in "${utilities_to_test[@]}"; do
+  echo "Testing $util..."
+  cargo install --path "src/uu/$util" --root "$INSTALL_DIR" --force --quiet
+  binary_path="$INSTALL_DIR/bin/$util"
+  help_output=$("$binary_path" --help 2>&1)
+
+  # Check for regression indicators
+  if echo "$help_output" | grep -q "common-usage"; then
+    echo "✗ CRITICAL REGRESSION: $util shows untranslated 'common-usage' key"
+    echo "Help output:"
+    echo "$help_output"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  # Verify proper "Usage:" label
+  if echo "$help_output" | grep -q "Usage:"; then
+    echo "✓ $util shows properly translated 'Usage:' label"
+  else
+    echo "✗ CRITICAL REGRESSION: $util missing 'Usage:' label"
+    echo "Help output:"
+    echo "$help_output"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+done
+
+echo "All tests passed!"