diff --git a/core/includes/ajax.inc b/core/includes/ajax.inc
index 693fe3a2a0af4045d5f5b8914e4e128c35b0fb94..0f056dcf176f1cfcd6e8e9604fa5cf83223749fc 100644
--- a/core/includes/ajax.inc
+++ b/core/includes/ajax.inc
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ function ajax_base_page_theme() {
     // to see the default theme, token validation isn't required for that, and
     // bypassing it allows most use-cases to work even when accessed from the
     // page cache.
-    if ($theme === variable_get('theme_default', 'bartik') || drupal_valid_token($token, $theme)) {
+    if ($theme === variable_get('theme_default', 'stark') || drupal_valid_token($token, $theme)) {
       return $theme;
     }
   }
diff --git a/core/includes/theme.inc b/core/includes/theme.inc
index 902907ade24815371c142a8da6ef05f7edbe1e09..e6c07254844ad0c5251034a0168ecdfe66c9fbcd 100644
--- a/core/includes/theme.inc
+++ b/core/includes/theme.inc
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ function drupal_theme_initialize() {
 
   // Only select the user selected theme if it is available in the
   // list of themes that can be accessed.
-  $theme = !empty($user->theme) && drupal_theme_access($user->theme) ? $user->theme : variable_get('theme_default', 'bartik');
+  $theme = !empty($user->theme) && drupal_theme_access($user->theme) ? $user->theme : variable_get('theme_default', 'stark');
 
   // Allow modules to override the theme. Validation has already been performed
   // inside menu_get_custom_theme(), so we do not need to check it again here.
@@ -1432,7 +1432,7 @@ function theme_enable($theme_list) {
  */
 function theme_disable($theme_list) {
   // Don't disable the default theme.
-  if ($pos = array_search(variable_get('theme_default', 'bartik'), $theme_list) !== FALSE) {
+  if ($pos = array_search(variable_get('theme_default', 'stark'), $theme_list) !== FALSE) {
     unset($theme_list[$pos]);
     if (empty($theme_list)) {
       return;
diff --git a/core/includes/theme.maintenance.inc b/core/includes/theme.maintenance.inc
index d663d144b1831158f245a9f10f9d1de6254e426d..dce880194e1852e69e1a289c20c104ae2f1e6e1b 100644
--- a/core/includes/theme.maintenance.inc
+++ b/core/includes/theme.maintenance.inc
@@ -44,6 +44,12 @@ function _drupal_maintenance_theme() {
 
     // We use the default theme as the maintenance theme. If a default theme
     // isn't specified in the database or in settings.php, we use Bartik.
+    // @todo Should use the actual default theme configured, but that depends on
+    //   configuration being available while possibly not having a working
+    //   database connection (yet). And only if that fails, should fall back to
+    //   Stark otherwise. Since there is no low-level access to configuration
+    //   currently, we only consult settings.php and fall back to Bartik
+    //   otherwise, as it looks generic enough and way more user-friendly.
     $custom_theme = variable_get('maintenance_theme', variable_get('theme_default', 'bartik'));
   }
 
diff --git a/core/modules/block/block.admin.inc b/core/modules/block/block.admin.inc
index 0e543435b123e7da24ef1017e586eaecfcc1c645..2b3c2dd3cc5007b760ef8fa2aa5e2b05a971a075 100644
--- a/core/modules/block/block.admin.inc
+++ b/core/modules/block/block.admin.inc
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ function block_admin_configure($form, &$form_state, $module, $delta) {
     '#tree' => TRUE,
   );
 
-  $theme_default = variable_get('theme_default', 'bartik');
+  $theme_default = variable_get('theme_default', 'stark');
   $admin_theme = variable_get('admin_theme');
   foreach (list_themes() as $key => $theme) {
     // Only display enabled themes
diff --git a/core/modules/block/block.module b/core/modules/block/block.module
index 55b0b40ab9337d380f30bf9d8d564fbe9ab25f68..4d942edc616e54a195de8dc9404624f895ded5e4 100644
--- a/core/modules/block/block.module
+++ b/core/modules/block/block.module
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ function block_help($path, $arg) {
       return '<p>' . t('Use this page to create a new custom block.') . '</p>';
   }
   if ($arg[0] == 'admin' && $arg[1] == 'structure' && $arg['2'] == 'block' && (empty($arg[3]) || $arg[3] == 'list')) {
-    $demo_theme = !empty($arg[4]) ? $arg[4] : variable_get('theme_default', 'bartik');
+    $demo_theme = !empty($arg[4]) ? $arg[4] : variable_get('theme_default', 'stark');
     $themes = list_themes();
     $output = '<p>' . t('This page provides a drag-and-drop interface for assigning a block to a region, and for controlling the order of blocks within regions. Since not all themes implement the same regions, or display regions in the same way, blocks are positioned on a per-theme basis. Remember that your changes will not be saved until you click the <em>Save blocks</em> button at the bottom of the page. Click the <em>configure</em> link next to each block to configure its specific title and visibility settings.') . '</p>';
     $output .= '<p>' . l(t('Demonstrate block regions (@theme)', array('@theme' => $themes[$demo_theme]->info['name'])), 'admin/structure/block/demo/' . $demo_theme) . '</p>';
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ function block_permission() {
  * Implements hook_menu().
  */
 function block_menu() {
-  $default_theme = variable_get('theme_default', 'bartik');
+  $default_theme = variable_get('theme_default', 'stark');
   $items['admin/structure/block'] = array(
     'title' => 'Blocks',
     'description' => 'Configure what block content appears in your site\'s sidebars and other regions.',
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ function block_page_build(&$page) {
       $page['page_top']['backlink'] = array(
         '#type' => 'link',
         '#title' => t('Exit block region demonstration'),
-        '#href' => 'admin/structure/block' . (variable_get('theme_default', 'bartik') == $theme ? '' : '/list/' . $theme),
+        '#href' => 'admin/structure/block' . (variable_get('theme_default', 'stark') == $theme ? '' : '/list/' . $theme),
         // Add the "overlay-restore" class to indicate this link should restore
         // the context in which the region demonstration page was opened.
         '#options' => array('attributes' => array('class' => array('block-demo-backlink', 'overlay-restore'))),
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ function block_theme_initialize($theme) {
   // Initialize theme's blocks if none already registered.
   $has_blocks = (bool) db_query_range('SELECT 1 FROM {block} WHERE theme = :theme', 0, 1, array(':theme' => $theme))->fetchField();
   if (!$has_blocks) {
-    $default_theme = variable_get('theme_default', 'bartik');
+    $default_theme = variable_get('theme_default', 'stark');
     // Apply only to new theme's visible regions.
     $regions = system_region_list($theme, REGIONS_VISIBLE);
     $result = db_query("SELECT * FROM {block} WHERE theme = :theme", array(':theme' => $default_theme), array('fetch' => PDO::FETCH_ASSOC));
diff --git a/core/modules/block/block.test b/core/modules/block/block.test
index 6e30dd0efb89584e41ad0d058795872d5f17d00d..dbd7dc489e845b8a49ce5d55565dfeaaf7c7a186 100644
--- a/core/modules/block/block.test
+++ b/core/modules/block/block.test
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ class NewDefaultThemeBlocks extends DrupalWebTestCase {
 
     // Ensure no other theme's blocks are in the block table yet.
     $themes = array();
-    $themes['default'] = variable_get('theme_default', 'bartik');
+    $themes['default'] = variable_get('theme_default', 'stark');
     if ($admin_theme = variable_get('admin_theme')) {
       $themes['admin'] = $admin_theme;
     }
diff --git a/core/modules/dashboard/dashboard.module b/core/modules/dashboard/dashboard.module
index 1216cc00c117f7ff2d3372d4466de6ebb9729ee9..115bc8fafa6f0559bdb5a93e4688669d36fba061 100644
--- a/core/modules/dashboard/dashboard.module
+++ b/core/modules/dashboard/dashboard.module
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ function dashboard_permission() {
  */
 function dashboard_block_info_alter(&$blocks, $theme, $code_blocks) {
   $admin_theme = variable_get('admin_theme');
-  if (($admin_theme && $theme == $admin_theme) || (!$admin_theme && $theme == variable_get('theme_default', 'bartik'))) {
+  if (($admin_theme && $theme == $admin_theme) || (!$admin_theme && $theme == variable_get('theme_default', 'stark'))) {
     foreach ($blocks as $module => &$module_blocks) {
       foreach ($module_blocks as $delta => &$block) {
         // Make administrative blocks that are not already in use elsewhere
diff --git a/core/modules/node/node.test b/core/modules/node/node.test
index 0d13c4e86362ef999e977f80710985ba2c3da9c4..a04b0e663002aca77645e12dcfb386ed0344b730 100644
--- a/core/modules/node/node.test
+++ b/core/modules/node/node.test
@@ -1881,7 +1881,7 @@ class NodeBlockFunctionalTest extends DrupalWebTestCase {
     $custom_block['title'] = $this->randomName();
     $custom_block['types[article]'] = TRUE;
     $custom_block['body[value]'] = $this->randomName(32);
-    $custom_block['regions[' . variable_get('theme_default', 'bartik') . ']'] = 'content';
+    $custom_block['regions[' . variable_get('theme_default', 'stark') . ']'] = 'content';
     if ($admin_theme = variable_get('admin_theme')) {
       $custom_block['regions[' . $admin_theme . ']'] = 'content';
     }
diff --git a/core/modules/statistics/statistics.test b/core/modules/statistics/statistics.test
index f12490acf91dc330b4289292716d911fc535e59b..592f1653c94584aae17b0827f6709afc812c95f9 100644
--- a/core/modules/statistics/statistics.test
+++ b/core/modules/statistics/statistics.test
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ class StatisticsReportsTestCase extends StatisticsTestCase {
 
     // Configure and save the block.
     $block = block_load('statistics', 'popular');
-    $block->theme = variable_get('theme_default', 'bartik');
+    $block->theme = variable_get('theme_default', 'stark');
     $block->status = 1;
     $block->pages = '';
     $block->region = 'sidebar_first';
diff --git a/core/modules/system/system.admin.inc b/core/modules/system/system.admin.inc
index 97a4673dd69ec2cbf53bb3beb05b637b58606217..6dca80b88b723940fb66a0b15be66f71db6ef9d6 100644
--- a/core/modules/system/system.admin.inc
+++ b/core/modules/system/system.admin.inc
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ function system_themes_page() {
   $themes = system_rebuild_theme_data();
   uasort($themes, 'system_sort_modules_by_info_name');
 
-  $theme_default = variable_get('theme_default', 'bartik');
+  $theme_default = variable_get('theme_default', 'stark');
   $theme_groups  = array();
 
   foreach ($themes as &$theme) {
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ function system_theme_disable() {
 
     // Check if the specified theme is one recognized by the system.
     if (!empty($themes[$theme])) {
-      if ($theme == variable_get('theme_default', 'bartik')) {
+      if ($theme == variable_get('theme_default', 'stark')) {
         // Don't disable the default theme.
         drupal_set_message(t('%theme is the default theme and cannot be disabled.', array('%theme' => $themes[$theme]->info['name'])), 'error');
       }
diff --git a/core/modules/system/system.install b/core/modules/system/system.install
index 671147195ccbdd62ca3a770e4d697216804467e2..f33d0eaff9a4c560615f872ce3f6c8f454723b78 100644
--- a/core/modules/system/system.install
+++ b/core/modules/system/system.install
@@ -499,11 +499,11 @@ function system_install() {
   system_rebuild_theme_data();
 
   // Enable the default theme.
-  variable_set('theme_default', 'bartik');
+  variable_set('theme_default', 'stark');
   db_update('system')
     ->fields(array('status' => 1))
     ->condition('type', 'theme')
-    ->condition('name', 'bartik')
+    ->condition('name', 'stark')
     ->execute();
 
   // Populate the cron key variable.
@@ -1641,6 +1641,25 @@ function system_update_8001() {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Set Bartik as default theme if it implicitly was the default before.
+ *
+ * The default theme for Drupal core was changed from Bartik to Stark.
+ * Installation profiles (including Standard and Minimal) were changed to
+ * explicitly configure Bartik as default theme. Since Bartik was the default
+ * theme by default and may not have been explicitly configured as such
+ * previously, this update ensures that the implicit Bartik default is still the
+ * default.
+ *
+ * @see http://drupal.org/node/1181776
+ */
+function system_update_8002() {
+  $theme = variable_get('theme_default');
+  if (!isset($theme)) {
+    variable_set('theme_default', 'bartik');
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * @} End of "defgroup updates-7.x-to-8.x"
  * The next series of updates should start at 9000.
diff --git a/profiles/minimal/minimal.install b/profiles/minimal/minimal.install
index 059f038c2e7aa5755c85a968c96e8d0e8f50d1d3..6c56aecd2e85d9850501196954341f77fc6cc867 100644
--- a/profiles/minimal/minimal.install
+++ b/profiles/minimal/minimal.install
@@ -6,8 +6,14 @@
  * Perform actions to set up the site for this profile.
  */
 function minimal_install() {
+  // Enable Bartik theme and set it as default theme instead of Stark.
+  // @see system_install()
+  $default_theme = 'bartik';
+  variable_set('theme_default', $default_theme);
+  theme_enable(array($default_theme));
+  theme_disable(array('stark'));
+
   // Enable some standard blocks.
-  $default_theme = variable_get('theme_default', 'bartik');
   $values = array(
     array(
       'module' => 'system',
diff --git a/profiles/standard/standard.install b/profiles/standard/standard.install
index 5d447177fb26261c51fd7e3b3017fbd9ddc0ca46..9195ad949e1daf53eafda9adffeb855760965c39 100644
--- a/profiles/standard/standard.install
+++ b/profiles/standard/standard.install
@@ -62,8 +62,14 @@ function standard_install() {
   $full_html_format = (object) $full_html_format;
   filter_format_save($full_html_format);
 
+  // Enable Bartik theme and set it as default theme instead of Stark.
+  // @see system_install()
+  $default_theme = 'bartik';
+  variable_set('theme_default', $default_theme);
+  theme_enable(array($default_theme));
+  theme_disable(array('stark'));
+
   // Enable some standard blocks.
-  $default_theme = variable_get('theme_default', 'bartik');
   $admin_theme = 'seven';
   $values = array(
     array(