diff --git a/wp-includes/class-wp-widget.php b/wp-includes/class-wp-widget.php
index 2ccbbcf937..17f79385ce 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-wp-widget.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-wp-widget.php
@@ -539,8 +539,13 @@ class WP_Widget {
 
 		$settings = get_option( $this->option_name );
 
-		if ( false === $settings && isset( $this->alt_option_name ) ) {
-			$settings = get_option( $this->alt_option_name );
+		if ( false === $settings ) {
+			if ( isset( $this->alt_option_name ) ) {
+				$settings = get_option( $this->alt_option_name );
+			} else {
+				// Save an option so it can be autoloaded next time.
+				$this->save_settings( array() );
+			}
 		}
 
 		if ( ! is_array( $settings ) && ! ( $settings instanceof ArrayObject || $settings instanceof ArrayIterator ) ) {
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index a9ad00d47c..1035f23057 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '4.4-alpha-35099';
+$wp_version = '4.4-alpha-35100';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.