diff --git a/core/includes/menu.inc b/core/includes/menu.inc
index d28316b..bbc5138 100644
--- a/core/includes/menu.inc
+++ b/core/includes/menu.inc
@@ -1654,18 +1654,16 @@ function theme_menu_local_task($variables) {
  */
 function theme_menu_local_action($variables) {
   $link = $variables['element']['#link'];
+  $link += array(
+    'href' => '',
+    'localized_options' => array(),
+  );
+  $link['localized_options']['attributes']['class'][] = 'button';
+  $link['localized_options']['attributes']['class'][] = 'add';
 
   $output = '<li>';
-  if (isset($link['href'])) {
-    $output .= l($link['title'], $link['href'], isset($link['localized_options']) ? $link['localized_options'] : array());
-  }
-  elseif (!empty($link['localized_options']['html'])) {
-    $output .= $link['title'];
-  }
-  else {
-    $output .= check_plain($link['title']);
-  }
-  $output .= "</li>\n";
+  $output .= l($link['title'], $link['href'], $link['localized_options']);
+  $output .= "</li>";
 
   return $output;
 }
diff --git a/core/modules/block/lib/Drupal/block/Tests/BlockTest.php b/core/modules/block/lib/Drupal/block/Tests/BlockTest.php
index b09f2d4..01d3b67 100644
--- a/core/modules/block/lib/Drupal/block/Tests/BlockTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/block/lib/Drupal/block/Tests/BlockTest.php
@@ -71,9 +71,11 @@ function testCustomBlock() {
 
     // Confirm that the add block link appears on block overview pages.
     $this->drupalGet('admin/structure/block');
-    $this->assertRaw(l('Add block', 'admin/structure/block/add'), 'Add block link is present on block overview page for default theme.');
+    $this->assertLink(t('Add block'));
+    $this->assertLinkByHref('admin/structure/block/add');
     $this->drupalGet('admin/structure/block/list/seven');
-    $this->assertRaw(l('Add block', 'admin/structure/block/list/seven/add'), 'Add block link is present on block overview page for non-default theme.');
+    $this->assertLink(t('Add block'));
+    $this->assertLinkByHref('admin/structure/block/list/seven/add');
 
     // Confirm that hidden regions are not shown as options for block placement
     // when adding a new block.
diff --git a/core/modules/system/system.theme-rtl.css b/core/modules/system/system.theme-rtl.css
index a8b5e0f..27b8ce7 100644
--- a/core/modules/system/system.theme-rtl.css
+++ b/core/modules/system/system.theme-rtl.css
@@ -76,6 +76,20 @@ ul.menu {
 }
 
 /**
+ * RTL Styles for link buttons and action links.
+ */
+.action-links li:first-child {
+  margin-left: auto;
+  margin-right: 0;
+}
+a.button.add:before {
+  margin-left: 0;
+  margin-right: -0.1em;
+  padding-left: 0.2em;
+  padding-right: 0;
+}
+
+/**
  * RTL Styles for system messages.
  */
 
diff --git a/core/modules/system/system.theme.css b/core/modules/system/system.theme.css
index ad901ea..6a4a64d 100644
--- a/core/modules/system/system.theme.css
+++ b/core/modules/system/system.theme.css
@@ -335,6 +335,34 @@ ul.tabs {
 }
 
 /**
+ * Styles for link buttons and action links.
+ */
+.action-links {
+  list-style: none;
+  padding: 0;
+  margin: 1em 0;
+}
+.action-links li {
+  display: inline-block;
+  margin: 0 0.3em;
+}
+.action-links li:first-child {
+  margin-left: 0; /* LTR */
+}
+a.button {
+  display: inline-block;
+  line-height: 160%;
+  padding: 0.2em 0.5em 0.3em;
+  text-decoration: none;
+}
+a.button.add:before {
+  content: '+';
+  font-weight: 900;
+  margin-left: -0.1em; /* LTR */
+  padding-right: 0.2em; /* LTR */
+}
+
+/**
  * Styles for system messages.
  */
 div.messages {
diff --git a/core/themes/bartik/css/style.css b/core/themes/bartik/css/style.css
index 94ac775..9e781eb 100644
--- a/core/themes/bartik/css/style.css
+++ b/core/themes/bartik/css/style.css
@@ -1030,19 +1030,9 @@ div.tabs {
   border-bottom: none;
   border-radius: 5px;
 }
-ul.action-links {
-  list-style: none;
-  margin: 5px;
-  padding: 0.5em 1em;
-}
-ul.action-links li {
-  display: inline-block;
-  margin-left: 10px;
-}
 ul.action-links li a {
   padding-left: 15px;
-  background: url(../images/add.png) no-repeat left center;
-  margin: 0 10px 0 0;
+  margin: 0;
 }
 
 /* ---------------- Messages  ----------------- */
diff --git a/core/themes/seven/style.css b/core/themes/seven/style.css
index 9c43ac9..7677899 100644
--- a/core/themes/seven/style.css
+++ b/core/themes/seven/style.css
@@ -709,20 +709,41 @@ select.form-select:focus {
 .js input.throbbing {
   background-position: 100% -16px;
 }
-ul.action-links {
-  margin: 1em 0;
-  padding: 0 20px 0 20px; /* LTR */
-  list-style-type: none;
-  overflow: hidden;
-}
-ul.action-links li {
-  float: left; /* LTR */
-  margin: 0 1em 0 0; /* LTR */
+a.button.add {
+  background: #1078d8;
+  background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, #419ff1, #1076d5);
+  background-image: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #419ff1, #1076d5);
+  background-image: -o-linear-gradient(top, #419ff1, #1076d5);
+  background-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, #419ff1, #1076d5);
+  border: 1px solid #0048c8;
+  border-radius: .4em;
+  -webkit-box-shadow: inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, .4);
+  box-shadow: inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, .4);
+  color: #fff;
+  font-size: 1em;
+  line-height: normal;
+  margin: 0;
+  padding: 0.2em 1em 0.3em;
+  text-shadow: 0 -1px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
+}
+a.button.add:focus,
+a.button.add:hover {
+  background-color: #419cf1;
+  background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, #59abf3, #2a90ef);
+  background-image: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #59abf3, #2a90ef);
+  background-image: -o-linear-gradient(top, #59abf3, #2a90ef);
+  background-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, #59abf3, #2a90ef);
+  color: #fff;
 }
-ul.action-links a {
-  padding-left: 15px; /* LTR */
-  background: transparent url(images/add.png) no-repeat 0 center;
-  line-height: 30px;
+a.button.add:active {
+  background-color: #0e69be;
+  background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, #0e69be, #2a93ef);
+  background-image: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #0e69be, #2a93ef);
+  background-image: -o-linear-gradient(top, #0e69be, #2a93ef);
+  background-image: -ms-linear-gradient(top, #0e69be, #2a93ef);
+  background-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, #0e69be, #2a93ef);
+  -webkit-box-shadow: inset 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, .25);
+  box-shadow: inset 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, .25);
 }
 
 /**