diff --git a/src/calibre/web/feeds/__init__.py b/src/calibre/web/feeds/__init__.py
index 46a1f964d0..bf194337e2 100644
--- a/src/calibre/web/feeds/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/web/feeds/__init__.py
@@ -243,12 +243,6 @@ class Feed(object):
     def __str__(self):
         return repr(self)
 
-    def __bool__(self):
-        for article in self:
-            if getattr(article, 'downloaded', False):
-                return True
-        return False
-
     def has_embedded_content(self):
         length = 0
         for a in self:
diff --git a/src/calibre/web/feeds/templates.py b/src/calibre/web/feeds/templates.py
index a8c05fc614..71985831a5 100644
--- a/src/calibre/web/feeds/templates.py
+++ b/src/calibre/web/feeds/templates.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ class IndexTemplate(Template):
             head.append(STYLE(extra_css, type='text/css'))
         ul = UL(attrs('calibre_feed_list'))
         for i, feed in enumerate(feeds):
-            if feed:
+            if len(feed):
                 li = LI(A(feed.title, attrs('feed', rescale=120,
                     href='feed_%d/index.html'%i)), id='feed_%d'%i)
                 ul.append(li)
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ class TouchscreenIndexTemplate(Template):
 
         toc = TABLE(attrs('toc'),width="100%",border="0",cellpadding="3px")
         for i, feed in enumerate(feeds):
-            if feed:
+            if len(feed):
                 tr = TR()
                 tr.append(TD(attrs(rescale=120), A(feed.title, href='feed_%d/index.html'%i)))
                 tr.append(TD('%s' % len(feed.articles), style="text-align:right"))