diff --git a/browse.py b/browse.py
index 09945d8fc..bf1ea0dee 100644
--- a/browse.py
+++ b/browse.py
@@ -95,11 +95,9 @@ def transform(row):
                   offset=max(0, offset - qcoll.total_rows()), limit=limit - len(colls), output=AS_DICT)
     datas = map(transform, list(qdata))
 
-    if len(colls) + len(datas) == 0:
-        # No results at all?
-        # Make sure the collection actually exists.
-        if not collection.exists(ctx, coll):
-            return api.Error('nonexistent', 'The given path does not exist')
+    # No results at all? Make sure the collection actually exists.
+    if len(colls) + len(datas) == 0 and not collection.exists(ctx, coll):
+        return api.Error('nonexistent', 'The given path does not exist')
         # (checking this beforehand would waste a query in the most common situation)
 
     return OrderedDict([('total', qcoll.total_rows() + qdata.total_rows()),
@@ -177,11 +175,9 @@ def transform(row):
 
     colls = map(transform, [d for d in list(qcoll) if _filter_vault_deposit_index(d)])
 
-    if len(colls) == 0:
-        # No results at all?
-        # Make sure the collection actually exists.
-        if not collection.exists(ctx, coll):
-            return api.Error('nonexistent', 'The given path does not exist')
+    # No results at all? Make sure the collection actually exists.
+    if len(colls) == 0 and not collection.exists(ctx, coll):
+        return api.Error('nonexistent', 'The given path does not exist')
         # (checking this beforehand would waste a query in the most common situation)
 
     return OrderedDict([('total', qcoll.total_rows()),
diff --git a/datarequest.py b/datarequest.py
index 9b5165d04..fd81f3252 100644
--- a/datarequest.py
+++ b/datarequest.py
@@ -846,11 +846,9 @@ def transform_status(row):
                 datarequest['status'] = datarequest_status['status']
                 break
 
-    if len(colls) == 0:
-        # No results at all?
-        # Make sure the collection actually exists
-        if not collection.exists(ctx, coll):
-            return api.Error('nonexistent', 'The given path does not exist')
+    # No results at all? Make sure the collection actually exists.
+    if len(colls) == 0 and not collection.exists(ctx, coll):
+        return api.Error('nonexistent', 'The given path does not exist')
         # (checking this beforehand would waste a query in the most common situation)
 
     return OrderedDict([('total', qcoll.total_rows()), ('items', colls)])