diff --git a/modules/system/system.module b/modules/system/system.module
index bfed7102d6e..621c7e1462e 100644
--- a/modules/system/system.module
+++ b/modules/system/system.module
@@ -2557,7 +2557,7 @@ function system_system_info_alter(&$info, $file, $type) {
  *   A string that is the region name.
  */
 function system_default_region($theme) {
-  $regions = array_keys(system_region_list($theme));
+  $regions = array_keys(system_region_list($theme, REGIONS_VISIBLE));
   return isset($regions[0]) ? $regions[0] : '';
 }