diff --git a/libraries/legacy/table/content.php b/libraries/legacy/table/content.php
index 3276073b6a933..57fd36c3c0e15 100644
--- a/libraries/legacy/table/content.php
+++ b/libraries/legacy/table/content.php
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ public function check()
 			}
 
 			// If we don't have any access rules set at this point just use an empty JAccessRules class
-			if (!isset($this->rules))
+			if (!$this->getRules())
 			{
 				$rules = $this->getDefaultAssetValues('com_content');
 				$this->setRules($rules);