diff --git a/modules/system/system.install b/modules/system/system.install
index d5e6743..59d1b66 100644
--- a/modules/system/system.install
+++ b/modules/system/system.install
@@ -282,6 +282,12 @@ function system_requirements($phase) {
       // Check for the string which was added to the recommended .htaccess file
       // in the latest security update.
       if (!file_exists($htaccess_file) || !($contents = @file_get_contents($htaccess_file)) || strpos($contents, 'Drupal_Security_Do_Not_Remove_See_SA_2013_003') === FALSE) {
+        // Skip the warning if the site is using the default system temporary
+        // directory, since that is very unlikely to be web-accessible and
+        // therefore doesn't need the .htaccess file.
+        if ($htaccess_file == 'temporary://.htaccess' && $info['directory'] == sys_get_temp_dir()) {
+          continue;
+        }
         $requirements[$htaccess_file] = array(
           'title' => $info['title'],
           'value' => $t('Not fully protected'),