diff --git a/src/GrampsDbUtils/_GrampsBSDDB.py b/src/GrampsDbUtils/_GrampsBSDDB.py
index d3b567cdb..e5ded8113 100644
--- a/src/GrampsDbUtils/_GrampsBSDDB.py
+++ b/src/GrampsDbUtils/_GrampsBSDDB.py
@@ -1330,7 +1330,8 @@ class GrampsBSDDB(GrampsDbBase, UpdateCallback):
             pass
 
     def __get_obj_from_gramps_id(self, val, tbl, class_init, prim_tbl):
-        if str(val) in tbl:
+        if tbl.has_key(str(val)):
+        #if str(val) in tbl:
             data = tbl.get(str(val), txn=self.txn)
             obj = class_init()
             ### FIXME: this is a dirty hack that works without no
diff --git a/src/gen/db/dbdir.py b/src/gen/db/dbdir.py
index d6ba92057..bf556aeb5 100644
--- a/src/gen/db/dbdir.py
+++ b/src/gen/db/dbdir.py
@@ -1373,7 +1373,8 @@ class GrampsDBDir(GrampsDbBase, UpdateCallback):
 
     def __get_obj_from_gramps_id(self, val, tbl, class_init, prim_tbl):
         try:
-            if str(val) in tbl:
+            if tbl.has_key(str(val)):
+            #if str(val) in tbl:
                 data = tbl.get(str(val), txn=self.txn)
                 obj = class_init()
                 ### FIXME: this is a dirty hack that works without no