diff --git a/src/wp-includes/category-template.php b/src/wp-includes/category-template.php
index 96a61cf35e..ca58200d61 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/category-template.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/category-template.php
@@ -225,16 +225,14 @@ function get_the_category_list( $separator = '', $parents='', $post_id = false )
  * As of 2.7, the function can be used anywhere if it is provided a post ID or post object.
  *
  * @since 1.2.0
+ * @uses has_category()
  *
  * @param int|string|array $category Category ID, name or slug, or array of said.
  * @param int|object $post Optional. Post to check instead of the current post. (since 2.7.0)
  * @return bool True if the current post is in any of the given categories.
  */
 function in_category( $category, $post = null ) {
-	if ( empty( $category ) )
-		return false;
-
-	return has_term( $category, 'category', $post );
+	return has_category( $category, $post );
 }
 
 /**