diff --git a/wp-includes/user.php b/wp-includes/user.php
index 9c8d789768..f43f5e9a94 100644
--- a/wp-includes/user.php
+++ b/wp-includes/user.php
@@ -1794,6 +1794,10 @@ function wp_insert_user( $userdata ) {
 	 */
 	$data = apply_filters( 'wp_pre_insert_user_data', $data, $update, $update ? (int) $ID : null );
 
+	if ( empty( $data ) || ! is_array( $data ) ) {
+		return new WP_Error( 'empty_data', __( 'Not enough data to create this user.' ) );
+	}
+
 	if ( $update ) {
 		if ( $user_email !== $old_user_data->user_email ) {
 			$data['user_activation_key'] = '';
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 2cf3eca9a3..de6ec9c6bf 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '5.3-alpha-45857';
+$wp_version = '5.3-alpha-45858';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.