diff --git a/wp-includes/functions.php b/wp-includes/functions.php
index b048db383..3cdf184e0 100644
--- a/wp-includes/functions.php
+++ b/wp-includes/functions.php
@@ -4162,6 +4162,19 @@ function __return_zero() {
 	return 0;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Returns an empty array
+ *
+ * Useful for returning an empty array to filters easily
+ *
+ * @since 3.0.0
+ * @see __return_zero()
+ * @return array Empty array
+ */
+function __return_empty_array() {
+	return array();
+}
+
 /**
  * Send a HTTP header to disable content type sniffing in browsers which support it.
  *
diff --git a/wp-includes/theme.php b/wp-includes/theme.php
index bf3a778ca..3fb49b5df 100644
--- a/wp-includes/theme.php
+++ b/wp-includes/theme.php
@@ -1111,7 +1111,7 @@ function preview_theme() {
 	}
 
 	// Prevent theme mods to current theme being used on theme being previewed
-	add_filter( 'pre_option_mods_' . get_current_theme(), create_function( '', "return array();" ) );
+	add_filter( 'pre_option_mods_' . get_current_theme(), '__return_empty_array' );
 
 	ob_start( 'preview_theme_ob_filter' );
 }