diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index be1c55a7c8e..007faa02495 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ PHP                                                                        NEWS
 - LDAP:
   . Fix memory leak in ldap_set_options(). (ndossche)
 
+- Standard:
+  . Fix error check for proc_open() command. (ndossche)
+
 18 Dec 2025, PHP 8.3.29
 
 - Core:
diff --git a/ext/standard/proc_open.c b/ext/standard/proc_open.c
index ce771098277..96e5a4ced99 100644
--- a/ext/standard/proc_open.c
+++ b/ext/standard/proc_open.c
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ typedef struct _descriptorspec_item {
 } descriptorspec_item;
 
 static zend_string *get_valid_arg_string(zval *zv, int elem_num) {
-	zend_string *str = zval_get_string(zv);
+	zend_string *str = zval_try_get_string(zv);
 	if (!str) {
 		return NULL;
 	}