diff --git a/scripts/policy/frameworks/management/controller/main.zeek b/scripts/policy/frameworks/management/controller/main.zeek
index a5c1840b18..2696ecc929 100644
--- a/scripts/policy/frameworks/management/controller/main.zeek
+++ b/scripts/policy/frameworks/management/controller/main.zeek
@@ -1166,7 +1166,7 @@ event Management::Controller::API::get_id_value_request(reqid: string, id: strin
 	local res: Management::Result;
 
 	# Special case: if we have no instances, respond right away.
-	if ( |g_instances| == 0 )
+	if ( |g_instances_known| == 0 )
 		{
 		Management::Log::info(fmt("tx Management::Controller::API::get_id_value_response %s", reqid));
 		res = Management::Result($reqid=reqid, $success=F, $error="no instances connected");