diff -u b/core/includes/theme.inc b/core/includes/theme.inc
--- b/core/includes/theme.inc
+++ b/core/includes/theme.inc
@@ -890,6 +890,7 @@
     $variables['description'] = $element['#description'];
   }
 
+  $variables['required'] = FALSE;
   // For required datetime fields a 'form-required' class is appended to the
   // label attributes.
   if (!empty($element['#required'])) {