diff --git a/bash_completion b/bash_completion
index 9564c2c5f0c..0e5552fbefe 100644
--- a/bash_completion
+++ b/bash_completion
@@ -972,7 +972,7 @@ _comp_finalize()
             fi
 
             # Call general finalizers
-            if ((${#BASH_COMPLETION_FINALIZE_HOOKS[@]})); then
+            if [[ ${BASH_COMPLETION_FINALIZE_HOOKS[*]+set} ]]; then
                 for _comp_local_hook in "${BASH_COMPLETION_FINALIZE_HOOKS[@]}"; do
                     eval -- "$_comp_local_hook"
                 done