diff --git a/wp-includes/class-wpdb.php b/wp-includes/class-wpdb.php
index aeb9679937..997df462a1 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-wpdb.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-wpdb.php
@@ -2114,7 +2114,8 @@ class wpdb {
 	 * @return bool|void True if the connection is up.
 	 */
 	public function check_connection( $allow_bail = true ) {
-		if ( ! empty( $this->dbh ) && mysqli_ping( $this->dbh ) ) {
+		// Check if the connection is alive.
+		if ( ! empty( $this->dbh ) && mysqli_query( $this->dbh, 'DO 1' ) !== false ) {
 			return true;
 		}
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 8b842cf60c..6a9c543157 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '6.7-alpha-59068';
+$wp_version = '6.7-alpha-59069';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.