diff --git a/core/includes/theme.inc b/core/includes/theme.inc
index 4c0e580..f4d5c5d 100644
--- a/core/includes/theme.inc
+++ b/core/includes/theme.inc
@@ -1032,6 +1032,13 @@ function theme($hook, $variables = array()) {
       }
     }
     else {
+      foreach ($element as $key => $value) {
+        // Prevent recursion loops by removing '#theme' and '#theme_wrappers'
+        // keys.
+        if ($key == '#theme' || $key == '#theme_wrappers') {
+          unset($element[$key]);
+        }
+      }
       $variables[$info['render element']] = $element;
     }
   }