diff --git a/src/wp-includes/atomlib.php b/src/wp-includes/atomlib.php
index ce62b13599..97f85baf2d 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/atomlib.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/atomlib.php
@@ -191,7 +191,8 @@ class AtomParser {
 
     function start_element($parser, $name, $attrs) {
 
-        $tag = array_pop(explode(":", $name));
+        $name_parts = explode(":", $name);
+        $tag        = array_pop($name_parts);
 
         switch($name) {
             case $this->NS . ':feed':
@@ -270,7 +271,8 @@ class AtomParser {
 
     function end_element($parser, $name) {
 
-        $tag = array_pop(explode(":", $name));
+        $name_parts = explode(":", $name);
+        $tag        = array_pop($name_parts);
 
         $ccount = count($this->in_content);