diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-templates-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-templates-controller.php
index cbf0ee040a..de18cbf5ae 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-templates-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-templates-controller.php
@@ -871,6 +871,9 @@ class WP_REST_Templates_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 				}
 				return $author->get( 'display_name' );
 		}
+
+		// Fail-safe to return a string should the original source ever fall through.
+		return '';
 	}
 
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 36e8fc9125..115140d204 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '6.7-alpha-58704';
+$wp_version = '6.7-alpha-58705';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.