diff -u b/core/includes/bootstrap.inc b/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
--- b/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
+++ b/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
@@ -212,14 +212,6 @@
   // drupal_static().
   static $files = array();
 
-  // We use drupal_static() for the missing records so we can test it.
-  // drupal_static_fast() is used as this function may be called often.
-  static $drupal_static_fast;
-  if (!isset($drupal_static_fast)) {
-    $drupal_static_fast['missing'] = &drupal_static(__FUNCTION__ . ':missing');
-  }
-  $missing = &$drupal_static_fast['missing'];
-
   // Type 'core' only exists to simplify application-level logic; it always maps
   // to the /core directory, whereas $name is ignored. It is only requested via
   // drupal_get_path(). /core/core.info.yml does not exist, but is required
@@ -257,43 +249,15 @@
     if (!isset($files[$type][$name]) && \Drupal::hasService('state')) {
       $files[$type] += \Drupal::state()->get('system.' . $type . '.files', array());
     }
-    // If still unknown, perform a filesystem scan.
+    // If still unknown, create a user-level error message.
     if (!isset($files[$type][$name])) {
-      if (!isset($missing)) {
-        $missing = array();
-        if (\Drupal::hasService('cache.bootstrap')) {
-          $cache = \Drupal::cache('bootstrap')->get('drupal_get_filename:missing');
-          if ($cache && $cache->data) {
-            $missing = $cache->data;
-          }
-        }
-      }
-      if (!isset($missing[$type][$name])) {
-        $listing = new ExtensionDiscovery(DRUPAL_ROOT);
-        // Prevent an infinite recursion by this legacy function.
-        if ($original_type == 'profile') {
-          $listing->setProfileDirectories(array());
-        }
-        foreach ($listing->scan($original_type) as $extension_name => $file) {
-          $files[$type][$extension_name] = $file->getPathname();
-        }
-      }
+      trigger_error(SafeMarkup::format('The following @type is missing from the file system: @name', array('@type' => $type, '@name' => $name)), E_USER_WARNING);
     }
   }
 
   if (isset($files[$type][$name])) {
     return $files[$type][$name];
   }
-  elseif (!isset($missing[$type][$name])) {
-    // Add the missing file to a temporary cache and throw an alert. This cache
-    // will be cleared on cron runs as well as when visiting the module and
-    // theme list pages.
-    $missing[$type][$name] = TRUE;
-    if (\Drupal::hasService('cache.bootstrap')) {
-      \Drupal::cache('bootstrap')->set('drupal_get_filename:missing', $missing, REQUEST_TIME + 24 * 60 * 60);
-    }
-    trigger_error(SafeMarkup::format('The following @type is missing from the file system: @name', array('@type' => $type, '@name' => $name)), E_USER_WARNING);
-  }
 }
 
 /**