diff --git a/core/includes/install.core.inc b/core/includes/install.core.inc
index 24ceaf26542a100978749d64193c3cdd424916a5..ce67e408942a302a458b54e6c7d63b82c4c90bf5 100644
--- a/core/includes/install.core.inc
+++ b/core/includes/install.core.inc
@@ -1784,7 +1784,8 @@ function install_check_requirements($install_state) {
         // having settings.php also owned by the webserver does not introduce
         // any additional security risk, so we keep the file in place.
         if (fileowner($default_settings_file) === fileowner($settings_file)) {
-          $writable = drupal_verify_install_file($settings_file, FILE_READABLE|FILE_WRITABLE);
+          $readable = drupal_verify_install_file($settings_file, FILE_READABLE);
+          $writable = drupal_verify_install_file($settings_file, FILE_WRITABLE);
           $exists = TRUE;
         }
         // If settings.php and default.settings.php have different owners, this
@@ -1808,7 +1809,8 @@ function install_check_requirements($install_state) {
           $exists = !$deleted;
           if ($exists) {
             $settings_file_ownership_error = TRUE;
-            $writable = drupal_verify_install_file($settings_file, FILE_READABLE|FILE_WRITABLE);
+            $readable = drupal_verify_install_file($settings_file, FILE_READABLE);
+            $writable = drupal_verify_install_file($settings_file, FILE_WRITABLE);
           }
         }
       }