diff --git a/libraries/DisplayResults.class.php b/libraries/DisplayResults.class.php
index f15e72ca63..b4a4839f62 100644
--- a/libraries/DisplayResults.class.php
+++ b/libraries/DisplayResults.class.php
@@ -5172,7 +5172,10 @@ class PMA_DisplayResults
         }
 
         /* Create link to download */
-        if (! empty($this->__get('db')) && ! empty($meta->orgtable)) {
+
+        // in PHP < 5.5, empty() only checks variables
+        $tmpdb = $this->__get('db');
+        if (! empty($tmpdb) && ! empty($meta->orgtable)) {
             $result = '<a href="tbl_get_field.php'
                 . PMA_URL_getCommon($url_params)
                 . '" class="disableAjax">'