Index: wp-includes/theme.php
===================================================================
--- wp-includes/theme.php	(revision 17105)
+++ wp-includes/theme.php	(working copy)
@@ -950,7 +950,7 @@
  */
 function get_page_template() {
 	$id = get_queried_object_id();
-	$template = get_post_meta($id, '_wp_page_template', true);
+	$template = ! is_front_page() ? get_post_meta($id, '_wp_page_template', true) : '';
 	$pagename = get_query_var('pagename');
 
 	if ( !$pagename && $id > 0 ) {