diff --git a/wp-includes/class-wp-walker.php b/wp-includes/class-wp-walker.php
index e4890ae5c6..ee68a205e9 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-wp-walker.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-wp-walker.php
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ class Walker {
 		$top_level_elements = array();
 		$children_elements  = array();
 		foreach ( $elements as $e) {
-			if ( 0 == $e->$parent_field )
+			if ( empty( $e->$parent_field ) )
 				$top_level_elements[] = $e;
 			else
 				$children_elements[ $e->$parent_field ][] = $e;
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 0c7b28bed7..1c5f6d08fa 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '4.4.1-alpha-36043';
+$wp_version = '4.4.1-alpha-36044';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.