diff --git a/core/includes/install.core.inc b/core/includes/install.core.inc
index d75ed9f..82883d6 100644
--- a/core/includes/install.core.inc
+++ b/core/includes/install.core.inc
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ function install_begin_request($class_loader, &$install_state) {
     $install_state['config_verified'] = FALSE;
   }
   $install_state['database_verified'] = install_verify_database_settings($site_path);
-  $install_state['settings_verified'] = $install_state['config_verified'] && $install_state['database_verified'];
+  $install_state['settings_verified'] = $install_state['database_verified'];
 
   // Install factory tables only after checking the database.
   if ($install_state['database_verified'] && $install_state['database_ready']) {
diff --git a/core/modules/system/src/Tests/Installer/InstallerConfigDirectorySetNoDirectoryTest.php b/core/modules/system/src/Tests/Installer/InstallerConfigDirectorySetNoDirectoryTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8ee9d02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/modules/system/src/Tests/Installer/InstallerConfigDirectorySetNoDirectoryTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Drupal\system\Tests\Installer;
+
+use Drupal\Component\Utility\Crypt;
+use Drupal\simpletest\InstallerTestBase;
+
+/**
+ * Tests the installer when a config_directory set up but does not exist.
+ *
+ * @group Installer
+ */
+class InstallerConfigDirectorySetNoDirectoryTest extends InstallerTestBase {
+
+  /**
+   * The sync directory created during the install.
+   *
+   * @var string
+   */
+  protected $syncDirectory;
+
+  /**
+   * {@inheritdoc}
+   */
+  protected function setUp() {
+    $this->syncDirectory = $this->publicFilesDirectory . '/config_' . Crypt::randomBytesBase64() . '/sync';
+    $this->settings['config_directories'][CONFIG_SYNC_DIRECTORY] = (object) array(
+      'value' => $this->syncDirectory,
+      'required' => TRUE,
+    );
+    parent::setUp();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Verifies that installation succeeded.
+   */
+  public function testInstaller() {
+    $this->assertUrl('user/1');
+    $this->assertResponse(200);
+    $this->assertTrue(file_exists($this->syncDirectory) && is_dir($this->syncDirectory));
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/core/modules/system/system.install b/core/modules/system/system.install
index c1b9292..0f77502 100644
--- a/core/modules/system/system.install
+++ b/core/modules/system/system.install
@@ -551,6 +551,10 @@ function system_requirements($phase) {
   if (!empty($GLOBALS['config_directories'])) {
     foreach (array_keys(array_filter($GLOBALS['config_directories'])) as $type) {
       $directory = config_get_config_directory($type);
+      // If we're installing Drupal try and create the config sync directory.
+      if (!is_dir($directory) && $phase == 'install') {
+        file_prepare_directory($directory, FILE_CREATE_DIRECTORY | FILE_MODIFY_PERMISSIONS);
+      }
       if (!is_dir($directory)) {
         $requirements['config directory ' . $type] = array(
           'title' => t('Configuration directory: %type', ['%type' => $type]),