diff -u b/core/includes/install.core.inc b/core/includes/install.core.inc
--- b/core/includes/install.core.inc
+++ b/core/includes/install.core.inc
@@ -1197,6 +1197,8 @@
  *   - For non-interactive installations via install_drupal() settings.
  * - A discovered profile that is a distribution. If multiple profiles are
  *   distributions, then the first discovered profile will be selected.
+ *   If an inherited profile is detected that is a distribution, it will be
+ *   chosen over its base profile.
  * - Only one visible profile is available.
  *
  * @param array $install_state
@@ -1219,11 +1221,8 @@
     }
   }
   // Check for a distribution profile.
-  foreach ($install_state['profiles'] as $profile) {
-    $profile_info = install_profile_info($profile->getName());
-    if (!empty($profile_info['distribution'])) {
-      return $profile->getName();
-    }
+  if ($distribution = \Drupal::service('profile_handler')->selectDistribution($install_state['profiles'])) {
+    return $distribution->getName();
   }
 
   // Get all visible (not hidden) profiles.
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
@@ -167,13 +167,6 @@
       // otherwise in the .info.yml file.
       $info['hidden'] = isset($info['hidden']) ? $info['hidden'] : 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($info['distribution']['name'])) {
-        $info['distribution']['name'] = 'Drupal';
-      }
-
       $this->info_cache[$profile] = $info;
     }
     return $this->info_cache[$profile];
@@ -255,6 +248,28 @@
   /**
    * {@inheritdoc}
    */
+  public function selectDistribution($profile_list) {
+    // First, find all profiles marked as distributions
+    $distributions = array();
+    foreach ($profile_list as $profile) {
+      $profile_info = $this->getProfileInfo($profile->getName());
+      if (!empty($profile_info['distribution'])) {
+        $distributions[$profile->getName()] = $profile;
+      }
+    }
+    // Remove any base profiles.
+    foreach ($profile_list as $profile) {
+      $profile_info = $this->getProfileInfo($profile->getName());
+      if ($base_profile = self::getProfileBaseName($profile_info)) {
+        unset($distributions[$base_profile]);
+      }
+    }
+    return !empty($distributions) ? current($distributions) : NULL;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * {@inheritdoc}
+   */
   static public function getProfileBaseName($info) {
     return !empty($info['base profile']['name'])
       ? $info['base profile']['name']
diff -u b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Extension/ProfileHandlerInterface.php b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Extension/ProfileHandlerInterface.php
--- b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Extension/ProfileHandlerInterface.php
+++ b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Extension/ProfileHandlerInterface.php
@@ -40,6 +40,20 @@
   public function getProfiles($profile = NULL);
 
   /**
+   * Select the install distribution from the list of profiles.
+   *
+   * If there are multiple profiles marked as distributions, select the first.
+   * If there is an inherited profile marked as a distribution, select it over
+   * its base profile.
+   *
+   * @param \Drupal\Core\Extension\Extension[] $profile_list
+   *   List of profiles to search.
+   * @return \Drupal\Core\Extension\Extension
+   *   The selected distribution, or NULL if none is found.
+   */
+  public function selectDistribution($profile_list);
+
+  /**
    * Return the name of a profile from its info.
    *
    * The info array can reference a "base profile" in two ways:
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
@@ -1012,6 +1012,12 @@
   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;
only in patch2:
unchanged:
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/profiles/testing_inherited/src/Tests/InheritedProfileTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Drupal\testing_inherited\Tests;
+
+use Drupal\simpletest\WebTestBase;
+
+/**
+ * Tests Inherited profiles.
+ *
+ * @group profiles
+ */
+class InheritedProfileTest extends WebTestBase {
+
+  protected $profile = 'testing_inherited';
+
+  /**
+   * Tests Inherited installation profile.
+   */
+  function testInheritedProfile() {
+    $this->drupalGet('');
+    // Check the login block is present.
+    $this->assertLink(t('Create new account'));
+    $this->assertResponse(200);
+    // Check that proper modules were enabled or not.
+    $this->assertTrue(\Drupal::moduleHandler()->moduleExists('config'));
+    $this->assertFalse(\Drupal::moduleHandler()->moduleExists('dblog'));
+  }
+
+}