diff --git a/phpBB/docs/CHANGELOG.html b/phpBB/docs/CHANGELOG.html
index d609e11a5a..60a0b9ddfc 100644
--- a/phpBB/docs/CHANGELOG.html
+++ b/phpBB/docs/CHANGELOG.html
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@
 		<li>[Fix] Fix column handling in db updater, custom profile fields an db tools for firebird DBMS (Bug #44555)</li>
 		<li>[Fix] IE8 textarea issues (Bug #43305)</li>
 		<li>[Fix] Prevent accounts from being activated by users when admin activation is turned on and the correct activation key is known.</li>
+		<li>[Fix] Allow the installer to operate under PHP 5.3. (Bug #45255)</li>
 		<li>[Change] Default difference view is now 'inline' instead of 'side by side'</li>
 		<li>[Change] Added new option for merging differences to conflicting files in automatic updater</li>
 		<li>[Change] Add link to user profile in the MCP for user notes and warn user.</li>
diff --git a/phpBB/includes/functions_install.php b/phpBB/includes/functions_install.php
index 90459813f1..611b0a7bc3 100644
--- a/phpBB/includes/functions_install.php
+++ b/phpBB/includes/functions_install.php
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ if (!defined('IN_PHPBB'))
 */
 function can_load_dll($dll)
 {
-	return ((@ini_get('enable_dl') || strtolower(@ini_get('enable_dl')) == 'on') && (!@ini_get('safe_mode') || strtolower(@ini_get('safe_mode')) == 'off') && @dl($dll . '.' . PHP_SHLIB_SUFFIX)) ? true : false;
+	return ((@ini_get('enable_dl') || strtolower(@ini_get('enable_dl')) == 'on') && (!@ini_get('safe_mode') || strtolower(@ini_get('safe_mode')) == 'off') && function_exists('dl') && @dl($dll . '.' . PHP_SHLIB_SUFFIX)) ? true : false;
 }
 
 /**