diff --git a/Lib/site.py b/Lib/site.py
index b0d8268f816..4fb1058a1e8 100644
--- a/Lib/site.py
+++ b/Lib/site.py
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ def register_readline():
             # want to ignore the exception.
             pass
 
-        if readline.get_history_item(1) is None:
+        if readline.get_current_history_length() == 0:
             # If no history was loaded, default to .python_history.
             # The guard is necessary to avoid doubling history size at
             # each interpreter exit when readline was already configured