diff --git a/src/wp-includes/functions.php b/src/wp-includes/functions.php
index 465383b81e..c433c7097f 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/functions.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/functions.php
@@ -8819,11 +8819,7 @@ function clean_dirsize_cache( $path ) {
  * @return string The current WordPress version.
  */
 function wp_get_wp_version() {
-	static $wp_version;
-
-	if ( ! isset( $wp_version ) ) {
-		require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
-	}
+	require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
 
 	return $wp_version;
 }