diff --git a/wp-includes/general-template.php b/wp-includes/general-template.php
index e4516328bf..5ee4e20b4b 100644
--- a/wp-includes/general-template.php
+++ b/wp-includes/general-template.php
@@ -1551,8 +1551,6 @@ function the_archive_description( $before = '', $after = '' ) {
  * @return string Archive description.
  */
 function get_the_archive_description() {
-	$description = '';
-
 	if ( is_author() ) {
 		$description = get_the_author_meta( 'description' );
 	} elseif ( is_post_type_archive() ) {
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 4ddf431a87..786fc01472 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '4.9-alpha-40976';
+$wp_version = '4.9-alpha-40977';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.