diff --git a/wp-includes/embed.php b/wp-includes/embed.php
index c38a079003..6ef190d0ea 100644
--- a/wp-includes/embed.php
+++ b/wp-includes/embed.php
@@ -791,7 +791,7 @@ function _oembed_rest_pre_serve_request( $served, $result, $request, $server ) {
 	// Bail if there's no XML.
 	if ( ! $result ) {
 		status_header( 501 );
-		return get_status_header_desc( 501 );
+		die( get_status_header_desc( 501 ) );
 	}
 
 	if ( ! headers_sent() ) {
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index b0288b720a..2cd1bf8fe8 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '6.9-alpha-60440';
+$wp_version = '6.9-alpha-60443';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.