diff --git a/openerp/models.py b/openerp/models.py
index 360c2208d7404a49eb774543c70852b5916215d4..4f9fc2852829b822f549d59cac9cff205985953f 100644
--- a/openerp/models.py
+++ b/openerp/models.py
@@ -2502,8 +2502,8 @@ class BaseModel(object):
                 self._create_table(cr)
                 has_rows = False
             else:
-                cr.execute('SELECT min(id) FROM "%s"' % (self._table,))
-                has_rows = cr.fetchone()[0] is not None
+                cr.execute('SELECT 1 FROM "%s" LIMIT 1' % self._table)
+                has_rows = cr.rowcount
 
             cr.commit()
             if self._parent_store: