diff --git a/modules/system/system.install b/modules/system/system.install
index 972079d3ea73146def25b8a3fc4001242dcb13af..6962c4e3dd24a74820daccc3648faff2f4fda4b1 100644
--- a/modules/system/system.install
+++ b/modules/system/system.install
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 function system_requirements($phase) {
   $requirements = array();
   // Ensure translations don't break at install time
-  $t = function_exists('t') ? 't' : 'st';
+  $t = get_t();
 
   // Report Drupal version
   if ($phase == 'runtime') {