diff --git a/wp-includes/class-wp-theme-json.php b/wp-includes/class-wp-theme-json.php
index 486156fcd3..b140601a43 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-wp-theme-json.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-wp-theme-json.php
@@ -1106,8 +1106,8 @@ class WP_Theme_JSON {
 		foreach ( $nodes as $metadata ) {
 			foreach ( $to_replace as $property_path ) {
 				$path = array_merge( $metadata['path'], $property_path );
-				$node = _wp_array_get( $incoming_data, $path, array() );
-				if ( ! empty( $node ) ) {
+				$node = _wp_array_get( $incoming_data, $path, null );
+				if ( isset( $node ) ) {
 					_wp_array_set( $this->theme_json, $path, $node );
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index d1c750004a..f7361c1993 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '5.9-alpha-51381';
+$wp_version = '5.9-alpha-51383';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.