diff --git modules/system/system.module modules/system/system.module
index 0317810..4220084 100644
--- modules/system/system.module
+++ modules/system/system.module
@@ -3140,7 +3140,7 @@ function system_time_zones($blank = NULL) {
  */
 function system_check_http_request() {
   // Try to get the content of the front page via drupal_http_request().
-  $result = drupal_http_request(url('', array('absolute' => TRUE)));
+  $result = drupal_http_request(url('', array('absolute' => TRUE, 'max_redirects' => 0)));
   // We only care that we get a http response - this means that Drupal
   // can make a http request.
   $works = isset($result->code) && ($result->code >= 100) && ($result->code < 600);