diff --git a/wp-includes/capabilities.php b/wp-includes/capabilities.php
index f40345deb9..13851cc2e1 100644
--- a/wp-includes/capabilities.php
+++ b/wp-includes/capabilities.php
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ function map_meta_cap( $cap, $user_id ) {
 
 			case 'term':
 				$term = get_term( $object_id );
-				if ( ! $term ) {
+				if ( ! $term instanceof WP_Term ) {
 					break;
 				}
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index b95be9ae1a..c321cb7f35 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '4.9-alpha-40998';
+$wp_version = '4.9-alpha-40999';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.