diff --git a/wp-includes/taxonomy.php b/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
index 69f9c28..467287d 100644
--- a/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
+++ b/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
@@ -2299,7 +2299,7 @@ function _get_term_hierarchy($taxonomy) {
 		return array();
 	$children = get_option("{$taxonomy}_children");
 
-	if ( is_array($children) )
+	if ( is_array($children) && !empty($children) )
 		return $children;
 	$children = array();
 	$terms = get_terms($taxonomy, array('get' => 'all', 'orderby' => 'id', 'fields' => 'id=>parent'));