diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index af7270325a..85ee689f5e 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '5.9-alpha-51798';
+$wp_version = '5.9-alpha-51799';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.
diff --git a/wp-includes/wp-db.php b/wp-includes/wp-db.php
index 04fa15c1ee..340a6f5861 100644
--- a/wp-includes/wp-db.php
+++ b/wp-includes/wp-db.php
@@ -1158,7 +1158,7 @@ class wpdb {
 	 * @return string Escaped string.
 	 */
 	function _real_escape( $string ) {
-		if ( ! is_scalar( $string ) && ! is_null( $string ) ) {
+		if ( ! is_scalar( $string ) ) {
 			return '';
 		}