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
@@ -1624,7 +1624,7 @@
  */
 function install_import_translations(&$install_state) {
   $module_handler = \Drupal::moduleHandler();
-  if ($module_handler->moduleExists('locale')) {
+  if (!$module_handler->moduleExists('locale')) {
     // Early return for install profile that does not enable locale module.
     return;
   }
@@ -1716,9 +1716,14 @@
  *   An array of batch definitions.
  */
 function install_finish_translations(&$install_state) {
-  \Drupal::moduleHandler()->loadInclude('locale', 'fetch.inc');
-  \Drupal::moduleHandler()->loadInclude('locale', 'compare.inc');
-  \Drupal::moduleHandler()->loadInclude('locale', 'bulk.inc');
+  $module_handler = \Drupal::moduleHandler();
+  if (!$module_handler->moduleExists('locale')) {
+    // Early return for install profile that does not enable locale module.
+    return array();
+  }
+  $module_handler->loadInclude('locale', 'fetch.inc');
+  $module_handler->loadInclude('locale', 'compare.inc');
+  $module_handler->loadInclude('locale', 'bulk.inc');
 
   // Build a fresh list of installed projects. When more projects than core are
   // installed, their translations will be downloaded (if required) and imported