diff --git a/wp-includes/cron.php b/wp-includes/cron.php
index 18fe14196e..f4810e55a3 100644
--- a/wp-includes/cron.php
+++ b/wp-includes/cron.php
@@ -1191,6 +1191,10 @@ function _get_cron_array() {
  * @return bool|WP_Error True if cron array updated. False or WP_Error on failure.
  */
 function _set_cron_array( $cron, $wp_error = false ) {
+	if ( ! is_array( $cron ) ) {
+		$cron = array();
+	}
+
 	$cron['version'] = 2;
 	$result          = update_option( 'cron', $cron );
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 6caf5af09a..b8e52d1017 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '5.9-alpha-51693';
+$wp_version = '5.9-alpha-51695';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.