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
@@ -159,8 +159,6 @@
     'completed_task' => NULL,
     // TRUE when there are valid config directories.
     'config_verified' => FALSE,
-    // This becomes TRUE only when Drupal's system module is installed.
-    'database_tables_exist' => FALSE,
     // TRUE when there is a valid database connection.
     'database_verified' => FALSE,
     // TRUE when a valid settings.php exists (containing both database
@@ -525,7 +523,6 @@
 
   // Modify the installation state as appropriate.
   $install_state['completed_task'] = $task;
-  $install_state['database_tables_exist'] = !empty($task);
 
   // Add the list of available profiles to the installation state.
   $install_state['profiles'] += drupal_system_listing('/^' . DRUPAL_PHP_FUNCTION_PATTERN . '\.profile$/', 'profiles');
@@ -1031,7 +1028,7 @@
   $modules[] = drupal_get_profile();
 
   \Drupal::state()->set('install_profile_modules', array_diff($modules, array('system')));
-  $install_state['database_tables_exist'] = TRUE;
+  $install_state['base_system_verified'] = TRUE;
 }
 
 /**