diff --git a/commands/core/site_install.drush.inc b/commands/core/site_install.drush.inc
index 158f8fa..5daa0bf 100644
--- a/commands/core/site_install.drush.inc
+++ b/commands/core/site_install.drush.inc
@@ -94,12 +94,12 @@ function drush_core_pre_site_install($profile = NULL) {
     }
   }
 
-  // If there is a profile, write it (as needed) into $conf['install_profile']
+  // If there is a profile, write it (as needed) into $conf['drush_install_profile']
   // to help drush find commandfiles earlier in the drush bootstrap.
   if (!empty($profile)) {
     $contents = file_get_contents($settingsfile);
-    if (strpos($contents, "\$conf['install_profile']") === FALSE && is_writable($settingsfile)) {
-      $install_profile_config = "\$conf['install_profile'] = '$profile';";
+    if (strpos($contents, "\$conf['drush_install_profile']") === FALSE && is_writable($settingsfile)) {
+      $install_profile_config = "\$conf['drush_install_profile'] = '$profile';";
       $appended = file_put_contents($settingsfile, "\n" . $install_profile_config . "\n", FILE_APPEND);
     }
   }
diff --git a/includes/command.inc b/includes/command.inc
index 33d77ed..bc2e828 100644
--- a/includes/command.inc
+++ b/includes/command.inc
@@ -1337,9 +1337,9 @@ function _drush_find_commandfiles($phase, $phase_max = FALSE) {
         }
       }
       if ($phase_max < DRUSH_BOOTSTRAP_DRUPAL_CONFIGURATION) {
-        // Too early for variable_get('install_profile', 'default'); look in all profiles.
+        // Too early for variable_get('drush_install_profile', 'default'); look in all profiles.
         // If we're definitely going to get to DRUPAL_CONFIGURATION, then wait and
-        // see if we have 'install_profile' available there.
+        // see if we have 'drush_install_profile' available there.
         $searchpath[] = "profiles";
         $searchpath[] = "sites/all/profiles";
       }
@@ -1352,11 +1352,11 @@ function _drush_find_commandfiles($phase, $phase_max = FALSE) {
       if ($phase_max < DRUSH_BOOTSTRAP_DRUPAL_FULL) {
         // You must define your install_profile in settings.php. The DB is not sufficient.
         // Drupal core does not yet do that. See http://drupal.org/node/545452.
-        if ($profile = variable_get('install_profile', NULL)) {
+        if ($profile = variable_get('drush_install_profile', NULL)) {
           $searchpath[] = "profiles/$profile/modules";
         }
         else {
-          // If 'install_profile' is not available, check all profiles.
+          // If 'drush_install_profile' is not available, check all profiles.
           $searchpath[] = "profiles";
         }
       }