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
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@
   $install_state['database_verified'] = install_verify_database_settings();
   $install_state['settings_verified'] = $install_state['config_verified'] && $install_state['database_verified'];
 
-  if ($install_state['database_verified']) {
+  if ($install_state['settings_verified']) {
     try {
       $system_schema = system_schema();
       end($system_schema);
@@ -348,6 +348,11 @@
       $install_state['base_system_verified'] = Database::getConnection()->schema()->tableExists($table);
     }
     catch (DatabaseExceptionWrapper $e) {
+      // The last defined table of the base system_schema() does not exist yet.
+      // $install_state['base_system_verified'] defaults to FALSE, so the code
+      // following below will use the minimal installer service container.
+      // As soon as the base system is verified here, the installer operates in
+      // a full and regular Drupal environment, without any kind of exceptions.
     }
   }