diff --git a/wp-includes/taxonomy.php b/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
index f161a71818..91ac0cdb24 100644
--- a/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
+++ b/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ function is_taxonomy_hierarchical( $taxonomy ) {
  *     @type bool          $_builtin              This taxonomy is a "built-in" taxonomy. INTERNAL USE ONLY!
  *                                                Default false.
  * }
- * @return void|WP_Error Void on success, WP_Error object on failure.
+ * @return WP_Taxonomy|WP_Error The registered taxonomy object on success, WP_Error object on failure.
  */
 function register_taxonomy( $taxonomy, $object_type, $args = array() ) {
 	global $wp_taxonomies;
@@ -441,6 +441,8 @@ function register_taxonomy( $taxonomy, $object_type, $args = array() ) {
 	 * @param array        $args        Array of taxonomy registration arguments.
 	 */
 	do_action( 'registered_taxonomy', $taxonomy, $object_type, (array) $taxonomy_object );
+
+	return $taxonomy_object;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 4ecf922a9a..75af121edc 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '5.4-alpha-47185';
+$wp_version = '5.4-alpha-47186';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.