diff --git a/django/apps/config.py b/django/apps/config.py
index 178fe971305..72c51214117 100644
--- a/django/apps/config.py
+++ b/django/apps/config.py
@@ -190,12 +190,10 @@ class AppConfig(object):
                 continue
             yield model
 
-    def import_models(self, all_models):
+    def import_models(self):
         # Dictionary of models for this app, primarily maintained in the
         # 'all_models' attribute of the Apps this AppConfig is attached to.
-        # Injected as a parameter because it gets populated when models are
-        # imported, which might happen before populate() imports models.
-        self.models = all_models
+        self.models = self.apps.all_models[self.label]
 
         if module_has_submodule(self.module, MODELS_MODULE_NAME):
             models_module_name = '%s.%s' % (self.name, MODELS_MODULE_NAME)
diff --git a/django/apps/registry.py b/django/apps/registry.py
index 91d6d5ccef8..adf6cbf7530 100644
--- a/django/apps/registry.py
+++ b/django/apps/registry.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ class Apps(object):
             if self.app_configs:
                 raise RuntimeError("populate() isn't reentrant")
 
-            # Load app configs and app modules.
+            # Phase 1: initialize app configs and import app modules.
             for entry in installed_apps:
                 if isinstance(entry, AppConfig):
                     app_config = entry
@@ -103,15 +103,15 @@ class Apps(object):
 
             self.apps_ready = True
 
-            # Load models.
+            # Phase 2: import models modules.
             for app_config in self.app_configs.values():
-                all_models = self.all_models[app_config.label]
-                app_config.import_models(all_models)
+                app_config.import_models()
 
             self.clear_cache()
 
             self.models_ready = True
 
+            # Phase 3: run ready() methods of app configs.
             for app_config in self.get_app_configs():
                 app_config.ready()
 
diff --git a/django/db/migrations/state.py b/django/db/migrations/state.py
index 60d192443b7..1a9c23e6182 100644
--- a/django/db/migrations/state.py
+++ b/django/db/migrations/state.py
@@ -214,8 +214,8 @@ class AppConfigStub(AppConfig):
         # the app name, but we need something unique, and the label works fine.
         super(AppConfigStub, self).__init__(label, None)
 
-    def import_models(self, all_models):
-        self.models = all_models
+    def import_models(self):
+        self.models = self.apps.all_models[self.label]
 
 
 class StateApps(Apps):