diff -u b/core/core.services.yml b/core/core.services.yml
--- b/core/core.services.yml
+++ b/core/core.services.yml
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@
       - { name: event_subscriber }
   config.installer:
     class: Drupal\Core\Config\ConfigInstaller
-    arguments: ['@config.factory', '@config.storage', '@config.typed', '@config.manager', '@event_dispatcher', '@profile_handler']
+    arguments: ['@config.factory', '@config.storage', '@config.typed', '@config.manager', '@event_dispatcher']
     lazy: true
   config.storage:
     class: Drupal\Core\Config\CachedStorage
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@
       - { name: event_subscriber }
   config.installer:
     class: Drupal\Core\Config\ConfigInstaller
-    arguments: ['@config.factory', '@config.storage', '@config.typed', '@config.manager', '@event_dispatcher']
+    arguments: ['@config.factory', '@config.storage', '@config.typed', '@config.manager', '@event_dispatcher', '@profile_handler']
     lazy: true
   config.storage:
     class: Drupal\Core\Config\CachedStorage
@@ -498,9 +498,6 @@
       - { name: module_install.uninstall_validator }
     arguments: ['@string_translation']
     lazy: true
-  profile_handler:
-    class: Drupal\Core\Extension\ProfileHandler
-    arguments: ['@app.root', '@info_parser']
   theme_handler:
     class: Drupal\Core\Extension\ThemeHandler
     arguments: ['@app.root', '@config.factory', '@module_handler', '@state', '@info_parser']
@@ -509,6 +506,9 @@
       - { name: module_install.uninstall_validator }
     arguments: ['@string_translation']
     lazy: true
+  profile_handler:
+    class: Drupal\Core\Extension\ProfileHandler
+    arguments: ['@app.root', '@info_parser']
   theme_handler:
     class: Drupal\Core\Extension\ThemeHandler
     arguments: ['@app.root', '@config.factory', '@module_handler', '@state', '@info_parser']
diff -u b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Extension/ProfileHandler.php b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Extension/ProfileHandler.php
--- b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Extension/ProfileHandler.php
+++ b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Extension/ProfileHandler.php
@@ -76,24 +76,20 @@
         $filename = file_exists($profile_path . "/$profile.$type") ? "$profile.$type" : NULL;
         $extension = new Extension($this->root, $type, $profile_file, $filename);
 
+        $info_defaults = array();
+
         // Installation profiles are hidden by default, unless explicitly specified
         // otherwise in the .info.yml file.
-        if (!isset($profile_info['hidden'])) {
-          $profile_info['hidden'] = TRUE;
-        }
-
-        // The installation profile is required, if it's a valid module.
-        $profile_info['required'] = TRUE;
-        // Add a default distribution name if the profile did not provide one.
-        // @see install_profile_info()
-        // @see drupal_install_profile_distribution_name()
-        if (!isset($profile_info['distribution']['name'])) {
-          $profile_info['distribution']['name'] = 'Drupal';
-        }
+        $info_defaults['hidden'] = isset($profile_info['hidden']) ? $profile_info['hidden'] : TRUE;
 
-        $extension->info = $profile_info;
+        $extension->info = $profile_info + $info_defaults;
         $extension->weight = $weight;
 
+        // See @1356276-192.  Issue in System::_system_rebuild_module_data,
+        // The $extension->info gets changed, so we need to save the original
+        // parse result elsewhere so it can be used to set profile defaults.
+        $extension->info_defaults = $info_defaults;
+
         // Add requested profile as last one.
         $profiles[$profile] = $extension;
       }
diff -u b/core/modules/system/system.module b/core/modules/system/system.module
--- b/core/modules/system/system.module
+++ b/core/modules/system/system.module
@@ -990,8 +990,12 @@
   // Read info files for each module.
   foreach ($modules as $key => $module) {
     // Look for the info file.
-    if (empty($module->info)) {
-      $module->info = \Drupal::service('info_parser')->parse($module->getPathname());
+    $module->info = \Drupal::service('info_parser')->parse($module->getPathname());
+    // Add any defaults stored in the extension (see ProfileHandler)
+    if (!empty($module->info_defaults)) {
+      $module->info = $module->info + $module->info_defaults;
+    }
+    else {
     }
 
     // Add the info file modification time, so it becomes available for
@@ -1014,6 +1018,19 @@
     _system_rebuild_module_data_ensure_required($module, $modules);
   }
 
+  // This must be done after _system_rebuild_module_data_ensure_required().
+  $profile = drupal_get_profile();
+  if ($profile && isset($modules[$profile])) {
+    // The installation profile is required, if it's a valid module.
+    $modules[$profile]->info['required'] = TRUE;
+    // Add a default distribution name if the profile did not provide one.
+    // @see install_profile_info()
+    // @see drupal_install_profile_distribution_name()
+    if (!isset($modules[$profile]->info['distribution']['name'])) {
+      $modules[$profile]->info['distribution']['name'] = 'Drupal';
+    }
+  }
+
   return $modules;
 }