diff --git a/core/includes/bootstrap.inc b/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
index b358269..e483104 100644
--- a/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
+++ b/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
@@ -287,8 +287,6 @@ const REGISTRY_WRITE_LOOKUP_CACHE = 2;
  */
 const DRUPAL_PHP_FUNCTION_PATTERN = '[a-zA-Z_\x7f-\xff][a-zA-Z0-9_\x7f-\xff]*';
 
-require_once DRUPAL_ROOT . '/core/includes/config.inc';
-
 /**
  * Starts the timer with the specified name.
  *
@@ -2264,6 +2262,9 @@ function _drupal_bootstrap_configuration() {
 
   // Activate the class loader.
   drupal_classloader();
+
+  // Load the procedural configuration system helper functions.
+  require_once DRUPAL_ROOT . '/core/includes/config.inc';
 }
 
 /**