diff --git a/django/conf/global_settings.py b/django/conf/global_settings.py
index 03609ffee6..882f1154ad 100644
--- a/django/conf/global_settings.py
+++ b/django/conf/global_settings.py
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ DATABASE_PORT = ''             # Set to empty string for default. Not used with
 # Host for sending e-mail.
 EMAIL_HOST = 'localhost'
 
+# List of strings representing installed apps.
+INSTALLED_APPS = ()
+
 # List of locations of the template source files, in search order.
 TEMPLATE_DIRS = ()
 
diff --git a/docs/settings.txt b/docs/settings.txt
index b5287b26a2..4d4b7ca85d 100644
--- a/docs/settings.txt
+++ b/docs/settings.txt
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ the 404 e-mailer. See ``SEND_BROKEN_LINK_EMAILS`` and ``IGNORABLE_404_ENDS``.
 INSTALLED_APPS
 --------------
 
-Default: Not defined
+Default: ``()`` (Empty tuple)
 
 A tuple of strings designating all applications that are enabled in this Django
 installation. Each string should be a full Python path to a Python package that