diff --git a/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/context/config/ConfigFileApplicationListener.java b/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/context/config/ConfigFileApplicationListener.java
index 1e8e3facac..1fa3f64454 100644
--- a/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/context/config/ConfigFileApplicationListener.java
+++ b/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/context/config/ConfigFileApplicationListener.java
@@ -342,7 +342,8 @@ public class ConfigFileApplicationListener implements EnvironmentPostProcessor,
 		}
 
 		private Set<Profile> initializeActiveProfiles() {
-			if (!this.environment.containsProperty(ACTIVE_PROFILES_PROPERTY)) {
+			if (!this.environment.containsProperty(ACTIVE_PROFILES_PROPERTY)
+					&& !this.environment.containsProperty(INCLUDE_PROFILES_PROPERTY)) {
 				return Collections.emptySet();
 			}
 			// Any pre-existing active profiles set via property sources (e.g. System
diff --git a/spring-boot/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/context/config/ConfigFileApplicationListenerTests.java b/spring-boot/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/context/config/ConfigFileApplicationListenerTests.java
index e167841367..adb3a4a011 100644
--- a/spring-boot/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/context/config/ConfigFileApplicationListenerTests.java
+++ b/spring-boot/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/context/config/ConfigFileApplicationListenerTests.java
@@ -806,6 +806,15 @@ public class ConfigFileApplicationListenerTests {
 				.isFalse();
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void profileCanBeIncludedWithoutAnyBeingActive() throws Exception {
+		SpringApplication application = new SpringApplication(Config.class);
+		application.setWebEnvironment(false);
+		this.context = application.run("--spring.profiles.include=dev");
+		String property = this.context.getEnvironment().getProperty("my.property");
+		assertThat(property).isEqualTo("fromdevpropertiesfile");
+	}
+
 	@Test
 	public void activeProfilesCanBeConfiguredUsingPlaceholdersResolvedAgainstTheEnvironment()
 			throws Exception {