diff --git a/wp-includes/taxonomy-functions.php b/wp-includes/taxonomy-functions.php
index 8a80184197..eee37bc8a3 100644
--- a/wp-includes/taxonomy-functions.php
+++ b/wp-includes/taxonomy-functions.php
@@ -803,8 +803,9 @@ function get_term_by($field, $value, $taxonomy, $output = OBJECT, $filter = 'raw
 		$field = 'tt.term_taxonomy_id';
 	} else {
 		$term = get_term( (int) $value, $taxonomy, $output, $filter );
-		if ( is_wp_error( $term ) )
+		if ( is_wp_error( $term ) || is_null( $term ) ) {
 			$term = false;
+		}
 		return $term;
 	}
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 449646e1eb..957fe4557e 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '4.4-alpha-34245';
+$wp_version = '4.4-alpha-34246';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.