diff --git a/modules/system/system.install b/modules/system/system.install
index 6d80c43..b3723f8 100644
--- a/modules/system/system.install
+++ b/modules/system/system.install
@@ -202,7 +202,13 @@ function system_requirements($phase) {
   if ($memory_limit && $memory_limit != -1 && parse_size($memory_limit) < parse_size(DRUPAL_MINIMUM_PHP_MEMORY_LIMIT)) {
     $description = '';
     if ($phase == 'install') {
+      // The memory limit is not a hard requirement, however it may prevent
+      // installation depending on the install profile. For this reason ensure
+      // that this message is shown during the installation process by both
+      // adding it to the requirements array, and also setting
+      // a message.
       $description = $t('Consider increasing your PHP memory limit to %memory_minimum_limit to help prevent errors in the installation process.', array('%memory_minimum_limit' => DRUPAL_MINIMUM_PHP_MEMORY_LIMIT));
+      drupal_set_message($description);
     }
     elseif ($phase == 'update') {
       $description = $t('Consider increasing your PHP memory limit to %memory_minimum_limit to help prevent errors in the update process.', array('%memory_minimum_limit' => DRUPAL_MINIMUM_PHP_MEMORY_LIMIT));