diff --git a/wp-includes/ms-deprecated.php b/wp-includes/ms-deprecated.php
index b3d56077d8..5ef393b275 100644
--- a/wp-includes/ms-deprecated.php
+++ b/wp-includes/ms-deprecated.php
@@ -356,3 +356,39 @@ function get_blogaddress_by_domain( $domain, $path ) {
 	}
 	return esc_url_raw( $url );
 }
+
+/**
+ * Create an empty blog.
+ *
+ * @since MU 1.0
+ * @deprecated 4.4.0
+ *
+ * @param string $domain       The new blog's domain.
+ * @param string $path         The new blog's path.
+ * @param string $weblog_title The new blog's title.
+ * @param int    $site_id      Optional. Defaults to 1.
+ * @return string|int The ID of the newly created blog
+ */
+function create_empty_blog( $domain, $path, $weblog_title, $site_id = 1 ) {
+	_deprecated_function( __FUNCTION__, '4.4' );
+
+	if ( empty($path) )
+		$path = '/';
+
+	// Check if the domain has been used already. We should return an error message.
+	if ( domain_exists($domain, $path, $site_id) )
+		return __( '<strong>ERROR</strong>: Site URL already taken.' );
+
+	// Need to back up wpdb table names, and create a new wp_blogs entry for new blog.
+	// Need to get blog_id from wp_blogs, and create new table names.
+	// Must restore table names at the end of function.
+
+	if ( ! $blog_id = insert_blog($domain, $path, $site_id) )
+		return __( '<strong>ERROR</strong>: problem creating site entry.' );
+
+	switch_to_blog($blog_id);
+	install_blog($blog_id);
+	restore_current_blog();
+
+	return $blog_id;
+}
diff --git a/wp-includes/ms-functions.php b/wp-includes/ms-functions.php
index d6a9861331..1eaada6d91 100644
--- a/wp-includes/ms-functions.php
+++ b/wp-includes/ms-functions.php
@@ -296,39 +296,6 @@ function remove_user_from_blog($user_id, $blog_id = '', $reassign = '') {
 	return true;
 }
 
-/**
- * Create an empty blog.
- *
- * @since MU 1.0
- *
- * @param string $domain       The new blog's domain.
- * @param string $path         The new blog's path.
- * @param string $weblog_title The new blog's title.
- * @param int    $site_id      Optional. Defaults to 1.
- * @return string|int The ID of the newly created blog
- */
-function create_empty_blog( $domain, $path, $weblog_title, $site_id = 1 ) {
-	if ( empty($path) )
-		$path = '/';
-
-	// Check if the domain has been used already. We should return an error message.
-	if ( domain_exists($domain, $path, $site_id) )
-		return __( '<strong>ERROR</strong>: Site URL already taken.' );
-
-	// Need to back up wpdb table names, and create a new wp_blogs entry for new blog.
-	// Need to get blog_id from wp_blogs, and create new table names.
-	// Must restore table names at the end of function.
-
-	if ( ! $blog_id = insert_blog($domain, $path, $site_id) )
-		return __( '<strong>ERROR</strong>: problem creating site entry.' );
-
-	switch_to_blog($blog_id);
-	install_blog($blog_id);
-	restore_current_blog();
-
-	return $blog_id;
-}
-
 /**
  * Get the permalink for a post on another blog.
  *
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 2485f6f008..14d0ac28a3 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '4.4-alpha-34752';
+$wp_version = '4.4-alpha-34753';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.