diff --git a/gramps/plugins/importer/importxml.py b/gramps/plugins/importer/importxml.py
index 6dfdee06d..20b068168 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/importer/importxml.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/importer/importxml.py
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ class GrampsParser(UpdateCallback):
         # Similarly, if the data is imported into an empty family tree, we also
         # import the Researcher; if the tree was not empty, the existing
         # Researcher is retained
-        self.import_researcher = self.db.is_empty()
+        self.import_researcher = self.db.get_total() == 0
         self.ord = None
         self.objref = None
         self.object = None