diff --git a/wp-includes/meta.php b/wp-includes/meta.php
index 1c0fdc4a3e..679ff6a3b5 100644
--- a/wp-includes/meta.php
+++ b/wp-includes/meta.php
@@ -1160,7 +1160,7 @@ function _get_meta_table( $type ) {
  */
 function is_protected_meta( $meta_key, $meta_type = '' ) {
 	$sanitized_key = preg_replace( "/[^\x20-\x7E\p{L}]/", '', $meta_key );
-	$protected     = strlen( $sanitized_key ) > 0 && ( '_' == $sanitized_key[0] );
+	$protected     = strlen( $sanitized_key ) > 0 && ( '_' === $sanitized_key[0] );
 
 	/**
 	 * Filters whether a meta key is considered protected.
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index a8530fa730..2eb67eaf41 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '5.5.2-alpha-49379';
+$wp_version = '5.5.2-alpha-49381';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.