diff --git a/includes/common.inc b/includes/common.inc
index 34fa9b9..44ceb49 100644
--- a/includes/common.inc
+++ b/includes/common.inc
@@ -4432,9 +4432,16 @@ function drupal_get_js($scope = 'header', $javascript = NULL, $skip_alter = FALS
     switch ($item['type']) {
       case 'setting':
         $js_element = $element;
-        $js_element['#value_prefix'] = $embed_prefix;
-        $js_element['#value'] = 'jQuery.extend(Drupal.settings, ' . drupal_json_encode(drupal_array_merge_deep_array($item['data'])) . ");";
-        $js_element['#value_suffix'] = $embed_suffix;
+        $js_element['#attributes'] = array(
+            // This type attribute prevents this from being parsed as an
+            // inline script.
+            'type' => 'application/json',
+            'data-drupal-selector' => 'drupal-settings-json',
+        );
+        $js_element['#value'] = drupal_json_encode(drupal_array_merge_deep_array($item['data']));
+        $output .= theme('html_tag', array('element' => $js_element));
+        $js_element = $element;
+        $js_element['#attributes']['src'] = file_create_url('misc/drupal-settings-loader.js') . $query_string_separator .  REQUEST_TIME;
         $output .= theme('html_tag', array('element' => $js_element));
         break;
 
diff --git a/misc/drupal-settings-loader.js b/misc/drupal-settings-loader.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dae2c2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/misc/drupal-settings-loader.js
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+/**
+ * @file
+ * Parse inline JSON and initialize the drupal.settings global object.
+ */
+(function ($) {
+
+  var settingsElement = document.querySelector('script[type="application/json"][data-drupal-selector="drupal-settings-json"]');
+
+  if (settingsElement !== null) {
+    DrupalSettings = JSON.parse(settingsElement.textContent);
+    jQuery.extend(Drupal.settings, DrupalSettings);
+  }
+})(jQuery);

diff --git a/modules/simpletest/tests/common.test b/modules/simpletest/tests/common.test
index bf85576..5a379f8 100644
--- a/modules/simpletest/tests/common.test
+++ b/modules/simpletest/tests/common.test
@@ -1450,7 +1450,8 @@ class JavaScriptTestCase extends DrupalWebTestCase {
     $this->drupalGet('');
     $this->assertRaw('misc/jquery.js', 'Default behavior: The front page of the site includes jquery.js.');
     $this->assertRaw('misc/drupal.js', 'Default behavior: The front page of the site includes drupal.js.');
-    $this->assertRaw('Drupal.settings', 'Default behavior: The front page of the site includes Drupal settings.');
+    $this->assertRaw('drupal-settings-json', 'Default behavior: The front page of the site includes Drupal settings.');
+    $this->assertRaw('misc/drupal-settings-loader.js', 'Default behavior: The front page of the site includes Drupal settings loader.');
     $this->assertRaw('basePath', 'Default behavior: The front page of the site includes the basePath Drupal setting.');
 
     // The default front page should not use jQuery and other standard scripts
@@ -1460,7 +1461,8 @@ class JavaScriptTestCase extends DrupalWebTestCase {
     $this->drupalGet('');
     $this->assertNoRaw('misc/jquery.js', 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The front page of the site does not include jquery.js.');
     $this->assertNoRaw('misc/drupal.js', 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The front page of the site does not include drupal.js.');
-    $this->assertNoRaw('Drupal.settings', 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The front page of the site does not include Drupal settings.');
+    $this->assertNoRaw('drupal-settings-json', 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The front page of the site does not include Drupal settings.');
+    $this->assertNoRaw('misc/drupal-settings-loader.js', 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The front page of the site does not include Drupal settings loader.');
     $this->assertNoRaw('basePath', 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The front page of the site does not include the basePath Drupal setting.');
     variable_del('javascript_always_use_jquery');
 
@@ -1471,7 +1473,8 @@ class JavaScriptTestCase extends DrupalWebTestCase {
     $javascript = drupal_get_js();
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/jquery.js') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when only settings have been added includes jquery.js.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/drupal.js') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when only settings have been added includes drupal.js.');
-    $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'Drupal.settings') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when only settings have been added includes Drupal.settings.');
+    $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'drupal-settings-json') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when only settings have been added includes Drupal.settings.');
+    $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/drupal-settings-loader.js') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when only settings have been added includes drupal-settings-loader.js.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'basePath') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when only settings have been added includes the basePath Drupal setting.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'testJavaScriptSetting') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when only settings have been added includes the added Drupal settings.');
 
@@ -1486,7 +1489,8 @@ class JavaScriptTestCase extends DrupalWebTestCase {
     $javascript = drupal_get_js();
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/jquery.js') === FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when only settings have been added does not include jquery.js.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/drupal.js') === FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when only settings have been added does not include drupal.js.');
-    $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'Drupal.settings') === FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when only settings have been added does not include Drupal.settings.');
+    $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'drupal-settings-json') === FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when only settings have been added does not include Drupal.settings.');
+    $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/drupal-settings-loader.js') === FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when only settings have been added does not include drupal-settings-loader.js.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'basePath') === FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when only settings have been added does not include the basePath Drupal setting.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'testJavaScriptSetting') === FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when only settings have been added does not include the added Drupal settings.');
     variable_del('javascript_always_use_jquery');
@@ -1498,7 +1502,8 @@ class JavaScriptTestCase extends DrupalWebTestCase {
     $javascript = drupal_get_js();
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/jquery.js') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file has been added includes jquery.js.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/drupal.js') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file has been added includes drupal.js.');
-    $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'Drupal.settings') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file has been added includes Drupal.settings.');
+    $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'drupal-settings-json') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file has been added includes Drupal.settings.');
+    $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/drupal-settings-loader.js') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file has been added includes drupal-settings-loader.js.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'basePath') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file has been added includes the basePath Drupal setting.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/collapse.js') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file has been added includes the custom file.');
 
@@ -1512,7 +1517,8 @@ class JavaScriptTestCase extends DrupalWebTestCase {
     $javascript = drupal_get_js();
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/jquery.js') !== FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file has been added includes jquery.js.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/drupal.js') !== FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file has been added includes drupal.js.');
-    $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'Drupal.settings') !== FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file has been added includes Drupal.settings.');
+    $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'drupal-settings-json') !== FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file has been added includes Drupal.settings.');
+    $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/drupal-settings-loader.js') !== FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file has been added includes drupal-settings-loader.js.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'basePath') !== FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file has been added includes the basePath Drupal setting.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/collapse.js') !== FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file has been added includes the custom file.');
     variable_del('javascript_always_use_jquery');
@@ -1525,7 +1531,8 @@ class JavaScriptTestCase extends DrupalWebTestCase {
     $javascript = drupal_get_js();
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/jquery.js') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file that does not require jQuery has been added includes jquery.js.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/drupal.js') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file that does not require jQuery has been added includes drupal.js.');
-    $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'Drupal.settings') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file that does not require jQuery has been added includes Drupal.settings.');
+    $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'drupal-settings-json') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file that does not require jQuery has been added includes Drupal.settings.');
+    $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/drupal-settings-loader.js') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file that does not require jQuery has been added includes drupal-settings-loader.js.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'basePath') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file that does not require jQuery has been added includes the basePath Drupal setting.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/collapse.js') !== FALSE, 'Default behavior: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when a custom JavaScript file that does not require jQuery has been added includes the custom file.');
 
@@ -1555,7 +1562,8 @@ class JavaScriptTestCase extends DrupalWebTestCase {
     $javascript = drupal_get_js();
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/jquery.js') !== FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when at least one custom JavaScript file that requires jQuery has been added includes jquery.js.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/drupal.js') !== FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when at least one custom JavaScript file that requires jQuery has been added includes drupal.js.');
-    $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'Drupal.settings') !== FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when at least one custom JavaScript file that requires jQuery has been added includes Drupal.settings.');
+    $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'drupal-settings-json') !== FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when at least one custom JavaScript file that requires jQuery has been added includes Drupal.settings.');
+    $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/drupal-settings-loader.js') !== FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when at least one custom JavaScript file that requires jQuery has been added includes drupal-settings-loader.js.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'basePath') !== FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when at least one custom JavaScript file that requires jQuery has been added includes the basePath Drupal setting.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/collapse.js') !== FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when at least one custom JavaScript file that requires jQuery has been added includes the first custom file.');
     $this->assertTrue(strpos($javascript, 'misc/ajax.js') !== FALSE, 'When "javascript_always_use_jquery" is FALSE: The JavaScript returned by drupal_get_js() when at least one custom JavaScript file that requires jQuery has been added includes the second custom file.');