diff --git a/wp-includes/class-wp-date-query.php b/wp-includes/class-wp-date-query.php
index 716b44215e..2f7ef7e28c 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-wp-date-query.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-wp-date-query.php
@@ -145,25 +145,21 @@ class WP_Date_Query {
 	 *                               'comment_date', 'comment_date_gmt'.
 	 */
 	public function __construct( $date_query, $default_column = 'post_date' ) {
+		if ( empty( $date_query ) || ! is_array( $date_query ) ) {
+			return;
+		}
+
 		if ( isset( $date_query['relation'] ) && 'OR' === strtoupper( $date_query['relation'] ) ) {
 			$this->relation = 'OR';
 		} else {
 			$this->relation = 'AND';
 		}
 
-		if ( ! is_array( $date_query ) ) {
-			return;
-		}
-
 		// Support for passing time-based keys in the top level of the $date_query array.
-		if ( ! isset( $date_query[0] ) && ! empty( $date_query ) ) {
+		if ( ! isset( $date_query[0] ) ) {
 			$date_query = array( $date_query );
 		}
 
-		if ( empty( $date_query ) ) {
-			return;
-		}
-
 		if ( ! empty( $date_query['column'] ) ) {
 			$date_query['column'] = esc_sql( $date_query['column'] );
 		} else {
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 333a2c17b9..e4c76f0ea0 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '5.3-alpha-45827';
+$wp_version = '5.3-alpha-45850';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.