diff --git a/src/wp-includes/ms-functions.php b/src/wp-includes/ms-functions.php
index 6d16269c81..7ac4f56ab2 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/ms-functions.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/ms-functions.php
@@ -899,10 +899,8 @@ function wpmu_create_user( $user_name, $password, $email ) {
 	if ( is_wp_error( $user_id ) )
 		return false;
 
-	$user = new WP_User( $user_id );
-
 	// Newly created users have no roles or caps until they are added to a blog.
-	delete_user_option( $user_id, $user->cap_key );
+	delete_user_option( $user_id, 'capabilities' );
 	delete_user_option( $user_id, 'user_level' );
 
 	do_action( 'wpmu_new_user', $user_id );