diff --git a/wp-includes/post.php b/wp-includes/post.php
index 509a5dcfa1..efa616745d 100644
--- a/wp-includes/post.php
+++ b/wp-includes/post.php
@@ -2400,8 +2400,10 @@ function &get_page_children($page_id, $pages) {
  */
 function &get_page_hierarchy( &$pages, $page_id = 0 ) {
 
-	if ( empty( $pages ) )
-		return null;
+	if ( empty( $pages ) ) {
+		$result = null;
+		return $result;
+	}
 
 	$children = array();
 	foreach ( (array) $pages as $p ) {