diff --git a/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Utility/LinkGenerator.php b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Utility/LinkGenerator.php
index a85ce5e..78a4af1 100644
--- a/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Utility/LinkGenerator.php
+++ b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Utility/LinkGenerator.php
@@ -125,8 +125,9 @@ public function generate($text, Url $url, $collect_cacheability_metadata = FALSE
     // Allow other modules to modify the structure of the link.
     $this->moduleHandler->alter('link', $variables);
 
-    // Move attributes out of options. generateFromRoute(() doesn't need them.
-    $attributes = new Attribute($variables['options']['attributes']);
+    // Move attributes out of options. generateFromRoute(() doesn't need them,
+    // including a placeholder for the href.
+    $attributes = array('href' => '') + $variables['options']['attributes'];
     unset($variables['options']['attributes']);
     $url->setOptions($variables['options']);
 
@@ -142,7 +143,7 @@ public function generate($text, Url $url, $collect_cacheability_metadata = FALSE
     }
     $attributes['href'] = $url_string;
 
-    $result = SafeMarkup::format('<a@attributes>@text</a>', array('@attributes' => $attributes, '@text' => $variables['text']));
+    $result = SafeMarkup::format('<a@attributes>@text</a>', array('@attributes' => new Attribute($attributes), '@text' => $variables['text']));
 
     return $collect_cacheability_metadata ? $generated_link->setGeneratedLink($result) : $result;
   }