diff --git a/include/dblayer/functions_mysqli.inc.php b/include/dblayer/functions_mysqli.inc.php
index 68ed83f2a..cbef10da3 100644
--- a/include/dblayer/functions_mysqli.inc.php
+++ b/include/dblayer/functions_mysqli.inc.php
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ function pwg_db_changes()
 
 function pwg_db_num_rows($result) 
 {
-  return $result->num_rows;
+  return $result->num_rows ?? 0;
 }
 
 function pwg_db_fetch_array($result)