diff --git a/wp-includes/class-wp-query.php b/wp-includes/class-wp-query.php
index afc8f9691a..a6c248a7bf 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-wp-query.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-wp-query.php
@@ -3032,7 +3032,15 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 */
 			$this->found_posts = $wpdb->get_var( apply_filters_ref_array( 'found_posts_query', array( 'SELECT FOUND_ROWS()', &$this ) ) );
 		} else {
-			$this->found_posts = count( $this->posts );
+			if ( is_array( $this->posts ) ) {
+				$this->found_posts = count( $this->posts );
+			} else {
+				if ( null === $this->posts ) {  
+					$this->found_posts = 0;
+				} else {
+					$this->found_posts = 1;
+				}
+			}
 		}
 
 		/**
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index e0aef37b81..1f77a2e11d 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '4.9.3-alpha-42596';
+$wp_version = '4.9.3-alpha-42597';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.