Abstract This article considers the long-standing problem–solution orientation in Applied Linguistics and reflects on some of the questions it raises for the field. Rather than assuming that language-related issues naturally present themselves as problems to be solved, the paper suggests that it is important to pay attention to the ways in which they are framed, the kinds of solutions that are envisaged, and the implications these processes have for the discipline. It points to the value of adopting perspectives that encourage us to take historical, social, and political conditions into account, and that remind us of both the possibilities and the limits of linguistic interventions. In this way, the article aims to contribute to ongoing discussions about the role of Applied Linguistics in engaging with real-world concerns.