diff --git a/src/wp-includes/link-template.php b/src/wp-includes/link-template.php
index 3db5c289c8..d872123e61 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/link-template.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/link-template.php
@@ -907,21 +907,22 @@ function edit_tag_link( $link = '', $before = '', $after = '', $tag = null ) {
  * Retrieve edit term url.
  *
  * @since 3.1.0
+ * @since 4.5.0 The `$taxonomy` argument was made optional.
  *
  * @param int    $term_id     Term ID.
- * @param string $taxonomy    Taxonomy.
- * @param string $object_type The object type. Used to highlight the proper post type menu on the linked page.
+ * @param string $taxonomy    Optional. Taxonomy. Defaults to the taxonomy of the term identified by `$term_id`.
+ * @param string $object_type Optional. The object type. Used to highlight the proper post type menu on the linked page.
  *                            Defaults to the first object_type associated with the taxonomy.
  * @return string|null The edit term link URL for the given term, or null on failure.
  */
-function get_edit_term_link( $term_id, $taxonomy, $object_type = '' ) {
-	$tax = get_taxonomy( $taxonomy );
-	if ( ! $tax || ! current_user_can( $tax->cap->edit_terms ) ) {
+function get_edit_term_link( $term_id, $taxonomy = '', $object_type = '' ) {
+	$term = get_term( $term_id, $taxonomy );
+	if ( ! $term || is_wp_error( $term ) ) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	$term = get_term( $term_id, $taxonomy );
-	if ( ! $term || is_wp_error( $term ) ) {
+	$tax = get_taxonomy( $term->taxonomy );
+	if ( ! $tax || ! current_user_can( $tax->cap->edit_terms ) ) {
 		return;
 	}
 
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/tests/term/getEditTermLink.php b/tests/phpunit/tests/term/getEditTermLink.php
index e6749da590..54023271d7 100644
--- a/tests/phpunit/tests/term/getEditTermLink.php
+++ b/tests/phpunit/tests/term/getEditTermLink.php
@@ -50,5 +50,38 @@ class Tests_Term_GetEditTermLink extends WP_UnitTestCase {
 		$this->assertNull( $actual );
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * @ticket 35922
+	 */
+	public function test_taxonomy_should_not_be_required() {
+		$t = self::factory()->term->create( array(
+			'taxonomy' => 'wptests_tax',
+			'name' => 'foo',
+		) );
 
+		$actual = get_edit_term_link( $t );
+		$this->assertNotNull( $actual );
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * @ticket 35922
+	 */
+	public function test_cap_check_should_use_correct_taxonomy_when_taxonomy_is_not_specified() {
+		register_taxonomy( 'wptests_tax_subscriber', 'post', array(
+			'manage_terms' => 'read',
+		) );
+
+		$t = self::factory()->term->create( array(
+			'taxonomy' => 'wptests_tax',
+			'name' => 'foo',
+		) );
+
+		$u = self::factory()->user->create( array(
+			'role' => 'subscriber',
+		) );
+		wp_set_current_user( $u );
+
+		$actual = get_edit_term_link( $t );
+		$this->assertNull( $actual );
+	}
 }