diff --git a/src/wp-includes/script-loader.php b/src/wp-includes/script-loader.php
index 137f74765b..61548c59b8 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/script-loader.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/script-loader.php
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@ function wp_default_scripts( &$scripts ) {
 		$scripts->add( 'admin-gallery', "/wp-admin/js/gallery$suffix.js", array( 'jquery-ui-sortable' ) );
 
 		$scripts->add( 'admin-widgets', "/wp-admin/js/widgets$suffix.js", array( 'jquery-ui-sortable', 'jquery-ui-draggable', 'jquery-ui-droppable' ), false, 1 );
-		$scripts->add_inline_script( 'admin-widgets', sprintf( 'wpWidgets.l10n = %s;', wp_json_encode( array(
+		did_action( 'init' ) && $scripts->add_inline_script( 'admin-widgets', sprintf( 'wpWidgets.l10n = %s;', wp_json_encode( array(
 			'save' => __( 'Save' ),
 			'saved' => __( 'Saved' ),
 			'saveAlert' => __( 'The changes you made will be lost if you navigate away from this page.' ),