diff --git a/core/includes/bootstrap.inc b/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
index 4c7223e..8778f33 100644
--- a/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
+++ b/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
@@ -1463,13 +1463,13 @@ function t($string, array $args = array(), array $options = array()) {
     //   actually enabled and its database tables are installed. Since PHP code
     //   cannot be unloaded, this is typically the case in the environment that
     //   is executing a test.
-    // - Whether Locale module actually has been loaded.
+    // - Whether Locale module actually has been loaded and locale() exists.
     //   The Locale module may be enabled, but the actual .module might not be
     //   loaded. This is typically the case in update.php, which needs to
     //   populate the full module list to invoke hook_requirements(), but must
     //   not load any actual modules and APIs, since they are not guaranteed to
     //   be operational.
-    $locale_exists = function_exists('module_exists') && module_exists('locale') && function_exists('locale');
+    $locale_exists = function_exists('locale') && function_exists('module_exists') && module_exists('locale');
   }
 
   // Merge in default.