diff --git a/src/Database/SqlDialectTrait.php b/src/Database/SqlDialectTrait.php
index c87ca0a8069..05cab5f46c4 100644
--- a/src/Database/SqlDialectTrait.php
+++ b/src/Database/SqlDialectTrait.php
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ protected function _updateQueryTranslator($query)
      */
     protected function _removeAliasesFromConditions($query)
     {
-        if (!empty($query->clause('join'))) {
+        if ($query->clause('join')) {
             throw new \RuntimeException(
                 'Aliases are being removed from conditions for UPDATE/DELETE queries, ' .
                 'this can break references to joined tables.'