diff --git a/core/includes/install.core.inc b/core/includes/install.core.inc
index 3711912..7ecd5a2 100644
--- a/core/includes/install.core.inc
+++ b/core/includes/install.core.inc
@@ -545,6 +545,22 @@ function install_tasks($install_state) {
       'display' => count($install_state['profiles']) != 1,
       'run' => INSTALL_TASK_RUN_IF_REACHED,
     ),
+  );
+
+  // The order of the first two installation tasks depends on whether any
+  // available install profile needs to modify the language selection process.
+  // If so, the profile selection task must come first, so that the profile is
+  // able to make the desired modifications once it is chosen.
+  foreach ($install_state['profiles'] as $profile) {
+    $info = install_profile_info($profile->name);
+    if (!empty($info['custom_language_selection'])) {
+      $tasks = array_reverse($tasks, TRUE);
+      break;
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Add the next set of core installation tasks.
+  $tasks += array(
     'install_load_profile' => array(
       'run' => INSTALL_TASK_RUN_IF_REACHED,
     ),
diff --git a/core/includes/install.inc b/core/includes/install.inc
index 470586c..89a49d4 100644
--- a/core/includes/install.inc
+++ b/core/includes/install.inc
@@ -1231,6 +1231,22 @@ function drupal_check_module($module) {
  * - distribution_name: The name of the Drupal distribution that is being
  *   installed, to be shown throughout the installation process. Defaults to
  *   'Drupal'.
+ * - langcode: Profiles which want to automatically pre-select a language for
+ *   the user (skipping the installer's language selection task) should set
+ *   this parameter to the desired language code. This must be a valid,
+ *   available language in order to work correctly. Note that setting this also
+ *   forces the custom_language_selection parameter below to be TRUE (since by
+ *   definition it means Drupal's default language selection method has been
+ *   altered). Defaults to NULL.
+ * - custom_language_selection: Profiles which want to customize or replace the
+ *   default installer language selection task must set this to TRUE. This will
+ *   cause the installer to run the profile selection task before the language
+ *   selection task, so that if the user does wind up choosing this profile,
+ *   the profile can alter the language selection task using normal methods,
+ *   such as hook_install_tasks_alter(). Because this change of order results
+ *   in a more difficult profile selection experience for non-English speakers,
+ *   you should only use this parameter if absolutely necessary. Defaults to
+ *   FALSE.
  *
  * Note that this function does an expensive file system scan to get info file
  * information for dependencies. If you only need information from the info
diff --git a/core/modules/system/system.api.php b/core/modules/system/system.api.php
index 51f0ecb..a639bcd 100644
--- a/core/modules/system/system.api.php
+++ b/core/modules/system/system.api.php
@@ -3255,6 +3255,16 @@ function hook_html_head_alter(&$head_elements) {
  * You can use this hook to change or replace any part of the Drupal
  * installation process that occurs after the installation profile is selected.
  *
+ * You can also use this hook to modify the language selection task (which by
+ * default comes before the profile selection) but only if you also set the
+ * special 'custom_language_selection' property in your profile's .info file,
+ * as described in install_profile_info(). This will cause the installer to run
+ * the profile selection task before the language selection task, thereby
+ * allowing your profile's modifications to the language selection task to take
+ * effect. Because this change of order results in a more difficult profile
+ * selection experience for non-English speakers, you should only do it if
+ * absolutely necessary.
+ *
  * @param $tasks
  *   An array of all available installation tasks, including those provided by
  *   Drupal core. You can modify this array to change or replace individual
@@ -3265,9 +3275,9 @@ function hook_html_head_alter(&$head_elements) {
  * @see install_profile_info()
  */
 function hook_install_tasks_alter(&$tasks, $install_state) {
-  // Replace the entire site configuration form provided by Drupal core
+  // Replace the "Choose language" installation task provided by Drupal core
   // with a custom callback function defined by this installation profile.
-  $tasks['install_configure_form']['function'] = 'myprofile_install_configure_form';
+  $tasks['install_select_language']['function'] = 'myprofile_language_selection';
 }
 
 /**