diff --git a/core/includes/menu.inc b/core/includes/menu.inc
index bf2e58e..4bc78e0 100644
--- a/core/includes/menu.inc
+++ b/core/includes/menu.inc
@@ -266,7 +266,12 @@ function template_preprocess_menu_link(&$variables) {
   $element = $variables['element'];
   $element['#localized_options']['set_active_class'] = TRUE;
   $variables['sub_menu'] = $element['#below'];
-  $variables['link'] = l($element['#title'], $element['#href'], $element['#localized_options']);
+  $variables['link'] = array(
+      '#type' => 'link',
+      '#title' => $element['#title'],
+      '#href' => $element['#href'],
+      '#options' => $element['#localized_options'],
+  );
   $variables['attributes'] = $element['#attributes'];
 }