diff --git a/wp-includes/functions.php b/wp-includes/functions.php
index 50bd8109b6..7710ab3343 100644
--- a/wp-includes/functions.php
+++ b/wp-includes/functions.php
@@ -2872,7 +2872,7 @@ function wp_json_encode( $data, $options = 0, $depth = 512 ) {
 	}
 
 	// Prepare the data for JSON serialization.
-	$data = _wp_json_prepare_data( $data );
+	$args[0] = _wp_json_prepare_data( $data );
 
 	$json = @call_user_func_array( 'json_encode', $args );
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 28ffe36b10..18c0e17e00 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '4.6-alpha-37443';
+$wp_version = '4.6-alpha-37444';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.