diff --git a/runtime/lib/query/ModelCriteria.php b/runtime/lib/query/ModelCriteria.php
index ac498c8ab..732b3b119 100644
--- a/runtime/lib/query/ModelCriteria.php
+++ b/runtime/lib/query/ModelCriteria.php
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ public function offset($offset)
      */
     public function select($columnArray)
     {
-        if (!count($columnArray) || $columnArray == '') {
+        if (empty($columnArray)) {
             throw new PropelException('You must ask for at least one column');
         }