diff --git a/core/includes/theme.inc b/core/includes/theme.inc
index b5a94edb4ae8e432a87fcf9633475b5ff7ccb737..93546dc970ef76211237872900a11ae56dc8e6c3 100644
--- a/core/includes/theme.inc
+++ b/core/includes/theme.inc
@@ -1692,12 +1692,15 @@ function theme_status_messages($variables) {
  *
  * @param $variables
  *   An associative array containing the keys 'text', 'path', and 'options'.
- *   See the l() function for information about these variables.
+ *   See the l() function for information about these variables. However, unlike
+ *   'text' in l() both render arrays and strings are supported here.
  *
  * @see l()
  */
-function theme_link(&$variables) {
-  return l($variables['text'], $variables['path'], $variables['options']);
+function theme_link($variables) {
+  // A link's text can be a string or a renderable array.
+  $rendered_text = is_array($variables['text']) ? drupal_render($variables['text']) : $variables['text'];
+  return l($rendered_text, $variables['path'], $variables['options']);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/core/modules/system/lib/Drupal/system/Tests/Common/UrlTest.php b/core/modules/system/lib/Drupal/system/Tests/Common/UrlTest.php
index dedddb0f862eaba86160b2216e1c25a37b9299a1..8a9f5f4aabdcd248bf580401ace307c28f19847a 100644
--- a/core/modules/system/lib/Drupal/system/Tests/Common/UrlTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/system/lib/Drupal/system/Tests/Common/UrlTest.php
@@ -134,6 +134,32 @@ function testLinkCustomClass() {
   }
 
   /**
+   * Tests that theme('link') supports renderable arrays provided as 'text'.
+   */
+  function testLinkNestedRenderArrays() {
+    // Build a link with l() for reference.
+    $l = l('foo', 'http://drupal.org');
+
+    // Test a themed link with plain text 'text'.
+    $theme_link_plain_array = array(
+      '#theme' => 'link',
+      '#text' => 'foo',
+      '#path' => 'http://drupal.org',
+    );
+    $theme_link_plain = drupal_render($theme_link_plain_array);
+    $this->assertEqual($theme_link_plain, $l);
+
+    // Build a themed link with renderable 'text'.
+    $theme_link_nested_array = array(
+      '#theme' => 'link',
+      '#text' => array('#markup' => 'foo'),
+      '#path' => 'http://drupal.org',
+    );
+    $theme_link_nested = drupal_render($theme_link_nested_array);
+    $this->assertEqual($theme_link_nested, $l);
+  }
+
+  /**
    * Checks for class existence in link.
    *
    * @param $link