diff --git a/wp-includes/link-template.php b/wp-includes/link-template.php
index a34b34b6ce..34bfd267a3 100644
--- a/wp-includes/link-template.php
+++ b/wp-includes/link-template.php
@@ -2511,7 +2511,8 @@ function get_next_posts_page_link( $max_page = 0 ) {
  * @return string|void The link URL for next posts page if `$display = false`.
  */
 function next_posts( $max_page = 0, $display = true ) {
-	$output = esc_url( get_next_posts_page_link( $max_page ) );
+	$link   = get_next_posts_page_link( $max_page );
+	$output = $link ? esc_url( $link ) : '';
 
 	if ( $display ) {
 		echo $output;
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index fe11cbcb0f..85fc397dcd 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '6.4-beta1-56739';
+$wp_version = '6.4-beta1-56740';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.