diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 93683a7cbd..102462051f 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '4.9-alpha-41326';
+$wp_version = '4.9-alpha-41327';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.
diff --git a/wp-includes/widgets.php b/wp-includes/widgets.php
index fbbdcf5f55..3b4944023c 100644
--- a/wp-includes/widgets.php
+++ b/wp-includes/widgets.php
@@ -1036,6 +1036,11 @@ function wp_convert_widget_settings($base_name, $option_name, $settings) {
 function the_widget( $widget, $instance = array(), $args = array() ) {
 	global $wp_widget_factory;
 
+	if ( ! isset( $wp_widget_factory->widgets[ $widget ] ) ) {
+		_doing_it_wrong( __FUNCTION__, __( 'Widgets need to be registered before they can be displayed.' ), '4.9.0' );
+		return;
+	}
+
 	$widget_obj = $wp_widget_factory->widgets[$widget];
 	if ( ! ( $widget_obj instanceof WP_Widget ) ) {
 		return;