diff --git a/src/wp-includes/class-wp-widget.php b/src/wp-includes/class-wp-widget.php
index 2ccbbcf937..17f79385ce 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/class-wp-widget.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/class-wp-widget.php
@@ -539,8 +539,13 @@ class WP_Widget {
 
 		$settings = get_option( $this->option_name );
 
-		if ( false === $settings && isset( $this->alt_option_name ) ) {
-			$settings = get_option( $this->alt_option_name );
+		if ( false === $settings ) {
+			if ( isset( $this->alt_option_name ) ) {
+				$settings = get_option( $this->alt_option_name );
+			} else {
+				// Save an option so it can be autoloaded next time.
+				$this->save_settings( array() );
+			}
 		}
 
 		if ( ! is_array( $settings ) && ! ( $settings instanceof ArrayObject || $settings instanceof ArrayIterator ) ) {
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/tests/widgets.php b/tests/phpunit/tests/widgets.php
index bf67894477..a98942044c 100644
--- a/tests/phpunit/tests/widgets.php
+++ b/tests/phpunit/tests/widgets.php
@@ -465,6 +465,11 @@ class Tests_Widgets extends WP_UnitTestCase {
 		$this->assertArrayHasKey( 'title', $instance );
 		unset( $option_value['_multiwidget'] );
 
+		// Pretend this widget is new.
+		delete_option( 'widget_nav_menu' );
+		$never_used = get_option( 'widget_nav_menu' );
+		$this->assertFalse( $never_used );
+
 		wp_widgets_init();
 		$wp_widget_search = $wp_registered_widgets['search-2']['callback'][0];
 
@@ -475,6 +480,11 @@ class Tests_Widgets extends WP_UnitTestCase {
 		foreach ( $option_value as $widget_number => $instance ) {
 			$this->assertEquals( $settings[ $widget_number ], $option_value[ $widget_number ] );
 		}
+
+		// After widgets_init(), get_settings() should create the widget option.
+		$never_used = get_option( 'widget_nav_menu' );
+		$this->assertEquals( 1, $never_used['_multiwidget'] );
+		$this->assertArrayNotHasKey( 0, $never_used );
 	}
 
 	/**