diff --git a/wp-includes/ms-functions.php b/wp-includes/ms-functions.php
index fa8df6d108..d17de7ead0 100644
--- a/wp-includes/ms-functions.php
+++ b/wp-includes/ms-functions.php
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ function wpmu_validate_user_signup( $user_name, $user_email ) {
 	$orig_username = $user_name;
 	$user_name     = preg_replace( '/\s+/', '', sanitize_user( $user_name, true ) );
 
-	if ( $user_name != $orig_username || preg_match( '/[^a-z0-9]/', $user_name ) ) {
+	if ( $user_name !== $orig_username || preg_match( '/[^a-z0-9]/', $user_name ) ) {
 		$errors->add( 'user_name', __( 'Usernames can only contain lowercase letters (a-z) and numbers.' ) );
 		$user_name = $orig_username;
 	}
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index e6ee910ff6..282f633503 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '6.8-alpha-59556';
+$wp_version = '6.8-alpha-59557';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.