diff --git a/wp-includes/functions.php b/wp-includes/functions.php
index 1e273b2b5d..7abf43ac48 100644
--- a/wp-includes/functions.php
+++ b/wp-includes/functions.php
@@ -981,16 +981,21 @@ function get_status_header_desc( $code ) {
  * Set HTTP status header.
  *
  * @since 2.0.0
+ * @since 4.4.0 Added the `$description` parameter.
  *
  * @see get_status_header_desc()
  *
- * @param int $code HTTP status code.
+ * @param int    $code        HTTP status code.
+ * @param string $description Optional. A custom description for the HTTP status.
  */
-function status_header( $code ) {
-	$description = get_status_header_desc( $code );
+function status_header( $code, $description = '' ) {
+	if ( ! $description ) {
+		$description = get_status_header_desc( $code );
+	}
 
-	if ( empty( $description ) )
+	if ( empty( $description ) ) {
 		return;
+	}
 
 	$protocol = wp_get_server_protocol();
 	$status_header = "$protocol $code $description";
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 28b0b621ce..999f6dabf7 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '4.4-alpha-34913';
+$wp_version = '4.4-alpha-34914';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.