diff --git a/holoviews/core/data/ibis.py b/holoviews/core/data/ibis.py
index 441f99a803..537c67be5a 100644
--- a/holoviews/core/data/ibis.py
+++ b/holoviews/core/data/ibis.py
@@ -34,8 +34,11 @@ def has_rowid(cls):
 
     @classmethod
     def is_rowid_zero_indexed(cls, data):
-        from ibis.client import find_backends, validate_backends
-        (backend,) = validate_backends(list(find_backends(data)))
+        try:
+            from ibis.client import find_backends, validate_backends
+            (backend,) = validate_backends(list(find_backends(data)))
+        except Exception:
+            backend = data._find_backend()
         return type(backend).__module__ in cls.zero_indexed_backend_modules
 
     @classmethod