diff --git a/src/wp-includes/post-template.php b/src/wp-includes/post-template.php
index b80ac4d4e4..5443340970 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/post-template.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/post-template.php
@@ -1016,7 +1016,7 @@ function post_custom( $key = '' ) {
  */
 function the_meta() {
 	if ( $keys = get_post_custom_keys() ) {
-		echo "<ul class='post-meta'>\n";
+		$li_html = '';
 		foreach ( (array) $keys as $key ) {
 			$keyt = trim( $key );
 			if ( is_protected_meta( $keyt, 'post' ) ) {
@@ -1041,9 +1041,12 @@ function the_meta() {
 			 * @param string $key   Meta key.
 			 * @param string $value Meta value.
 			 */
-			echo apply_filters( 'the_meta_key', $html, $key, $value );
+			$li_html .= apply_filters( 'the_meta_key', $html, $key, $value );
+		}
+
+		if ( $li_html ) {
+			echo "<ul class='post-meta'>\n{$li_html}</ul>\n";
 		}
-		echo "</ul>\n";
 	}
 }