diff --git a/wp-includes/functions.php b/wp-includes/functions.php
index 42aedb62de..4419998ea5 100644
--- a/wp-includes/functions.php
+++ b/wp-includes/functions.php
@@ -630,12 +630,12 @@ function delete_option( $name ) {
  * @return mixed A scalar data
  */
 function maybe_serialize( $data ) {
-	if ( is_string( $data ) )
-		return $data;
-	elseif ( is_array( $data ) || is_object( $data ) )
+	if ( is_array( $data ) || is_object( $data ) )
 		return serialize( $data );
+
 	if ( is_serialized( $data ) )
 		return serialize( $data );
+
 	return $data;
 }