diff --git a/src/wp-includes/l10n.php b/src/wp-includes/l10n.php
index 28c79eb07e2a..6ec5f810cb1d 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/l10n.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/l10n.php
@@ -2050,6 +2050,7 @@ static function ( $a, $b ) use ( $codes, $prios ) {
 		 * Only works if either the object cache or the database are already available.
 		 */
 		if ( wp_using_ext_object_cache() || wp_installing() ) {
+			wp_start_object_cache();
 			$translations = wp_cache_get( 'available_translations', 'site-transient' );
 		} elseif ( isset( $wpdb ) ) {
 			$translations = get_site_option( '_site_transient_available_translations' );