diff --git a/core/includes/bootstrap.inc b/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
index 369fdfc..79ded25 100644
--- a/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
+++ b/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
@@ -2333,6 +2333,11 @@ function drupal_container($reset = FALSE) {
   static $container = NULL;
   if ($reset || !isset($container)) {
     $container = new ContainerBuilder();
+    // An interface language always needs to be available for t() and other
+    // functions. This default is overridden by drupal_language_initialize()
+    // during language negotiation.
+    $container->register(LANGUAGE_TYPE_INTERFACE, 'Drupal\\Core\\Language\\Language')
+      ->addMethodCall('extend', array(language_default()));
   }
   return $container;
 }
diff --git a/core/modules/translation/tests/translation_test.module b/core/modules/translation/tests/translation_test.module
index e3bb4b5..93f8b5a 100644
--- a/core/modules/translation/tests/translation_test.module
+++ b/core/modules/translation/tests/translation_test.module
@@ -11,3 +11,11 @@
 function translation_test_node_insert($node) {
   drupal_write_record('node', $node, 'nid');
 }
+
+/**
+ * Implements hook_boot().
+ */
+function translation_test_boot() {
+  $oh_noes = t("Think of the poor @cute_animal!", array('@cute_animal' => 'kitteh'));
+}
+