diff --git a/wp-includes/template-functions-author.php b/wp-includes/template-functions-author.php
index 8591ac8f8..4f443b38f 100644
--- a/wp-includes/template-functions-author.php
+++ b/wp-includes/template-functions-author.php
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ function the_author($idmode = '', $echo = true) {
 
 function get_the_author_description() {
 	global $authordata;
-	return $authordata->user_description;
+	return $authordata->description;
 }
 function the_author_description() {
 	echo get_the_author_description();