diff --git a/wp-includes/author-template.php b/wp-includes/author-template.php
index eb050d89d8..cd4000a164 100644
--- a/wp-includes/author-template.php
+++ b/wp-includes/author-template.php
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ function the_modified_author() {
  *
  * @param string $field selects the field of the users record.
  * @param int $user_id Optional. User ID.
- * @return string The author's field from the current author's DB object.
+ * @return string The author's field from the current author's DB object, otherwise an empty string.
  */
 function get_the_author_meta( $field = '', $user_id = false ) {
 	$original_user_id = $user_id;
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 8678ff2fda..662d613366 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '4.9-alpha-40898';
+$wp_version = '4.9-alpha-40899';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.