diff --git a/ext/standard/basic_functions.c b/ext/standard/basic_functions.c
index b3b643cec7e..f65a71a7266 100755
--- a/ext/standard/basic_functions.c
+++ b/ext/standard/basic_functions.c
@@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ PHP_FUNCTION(constant)
 	ZEND_PARSE_PARAMETERS_END();
 
 	scope = zend_get_executed_scope();
-	c = zend_get_constant_ex(const_name, scope, 0);
+	c = zend_get_constant_ex(const_name, scope, ZEND_FETCH_CLASS_EXCEPTION);
 	if (!c) {
 		RETURN_THROWS();
 	}
diff --git a/ext/standard/tests/general_functions/gh9905.phpt b/ext/standard/tests/general_functions/gh9905.phpt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..33d2f4f7370
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ext/standard/tests/general_functions/gh9905.phpt
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+--TEST--
+GH-9905 (constant() behaves inconsistent when class is undefined)
+--FILE--
+<?php
+try {
+    \constant("\NonExistantClass::non_existant_constant");
+} catch (\Throwable|\Error|\Exception $e) {
+    echo($e->getMessage());
+}
+?>
+--EXPECT--
+Class "NonExistantClass" not found
diff --git a/tests/lang/bug44827.phpt b/tests/lang/bug44827.phpt
index 9220439c884..997a1a633f8 100644
--- a/tests/lang/bug44827.phpt
+++ b/tests/lang/bug44827.phpt
@@ -21,5 +21,4 @@ try {
 ?>
 --EXPECTF--
 define(): Argument #1 ($constant_name) cannot be a class constant
-
-Fatal error: Class "" not found in %s on line %d
+Class "" not found