diff --git a/core/includes/common.inc b/core/includes/common.inc
index 84cfa94540e..e4c9505b12b 100644
--- a/core/includes/common.inc
+++ b/core/includes/common.inc
@@ -1631,8 +1631,8 @@ function drupal_http_header_attributes(array $attributes = array()) {
  * This keeps the context of the link title ('settings' in the example) for
  * translators.
  *
- * @param string $text
- *   The translated link text for the anchor tag.
+ * @param string|array $text
+ *   The link text for the anchor tag as a translated string or render array.
  * @param string $path
  *   The internal path or external URL being linked to, such as "node/34" or
  *   "http://example.com/foo". After the url() function is called to construct
@@ -1665,10 +1665,9 @@ function drupal_http_header_attributes(array $attributes = array()) {
  * @see theme_link()
  */
 function l($text, $path, array $options = array()) {
-  // Build a variables array to keep the structure of the alter consistent with
-  // theme_link().
+  // Start building a structured representation of our link to be altered later.
   $variables = array(
-    'text' => $text,
+    'text' => is_array($text) ? drupal_render($text) : $text,
     'path' => $path,
     'options' => $options,
   );
diff --git a/core/includes/theme.inc b/core/includes/theme.inc
index 011db8d2326..70cce1e9862 100644
--- a/core/includes/theme.inc
+++ b/core/includes/theme.inc
@@ -1673,14 +1673,12 @@ function theme_status_messages($variables) {
  *
  * @param $variables
  *   An associative array containing the keys 'text', 'path', and 'options'.
- *   See the l() function for information about these variables. However, unlike
- *   'text' in l(), both render arrays and strings are supported here.
+ *   See the l() function for information about these variables.
  *
  * @see l()
  */
 function theme_link($variables) {
-  $rendered_text = is_array($variables['text']) ? drupal_render($variables['text']) : $variables['text'];
-  return l($rendered_text, $variables['path'], $variables['options']);
+  return l($variables['text'], $variables['path'], $variables['options']);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/core/modules/system/lib/Drupal/system/Tests/Common/UrlTest.php b/core/modules/system/lib/Drupal/system/Tests/Common/UrlTest.php
index a241a31e949..a502e82823a 100644
--- a/core/modules/system/lib/Drupal/system/Tests/Common/UrlTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/system/lib/Drupal/system/Tests/Common/UrlTest.php
@@ -134,12 +134,17 @@ class UrlTest extends WebTestBase {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Tests that theme_link() supports render arrays in 'text' parameter.
+   * Tests that link functions support render arrays as 'text'.
    */
-  function testLinkNestedRenderArrays() {
+  function testLinkRenderArrayText() {
     // Build a link with l() for reference.
     $l = l('foo', 'http://drupal.org');
 
+    // Test a renderable array passed to l().
+    $renderable_text = array('#markup' => 'foo');
+    $l_renderable_text = l($renderable_text, 'http://drupal.org');
+    $this->assertEqual($l_renderable_text, $l);
+
     // Test a themed link with plain text 'text'.
     $theme_link_plain_array = array(
       '#theme' => 'link',