diff --git a/src/wp-admin/includes/file.php b/src/wp-admin/includes/file.php
index 44d1b8d08003a..cc0c0a8af2358 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/includes/file.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/includes/file.php
@@ -1979,7 +1979,7 @@ function move_dir( $from, $to, $overwrite = false ) {
 			return new WP_Error( 'destination_already_exists_move_dir', __( 'The destination folder already exists.' ), $to );
 		} elseif ( ! $wp_filesystem->delete( $to, true ) ) {
 			// Can't overwrite if the destination couldn't be deleted.
-			return WP_Error( 'destination_not_deleted_move_dir', __( 'The destination directory already exists and could not be removed.' ) );
+			return new WP_Error( 'destination_not_deleted_move_dir', __( 'The destination directory already exists and could not be removed.' ) );
 		}
 	}