diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/magick/__init__.py b/src/calibre/utils/magick/__init__.py
index 01e0a7bdd8..99ed2d98be 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/magick/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/magick/__init__.py
@@ -60,12 +60,12 @@ class FontMetrics(object):
 
 # }}}
 
-class PixelWand(_magick.PixelWand): # {{{
+class PixelWand(_magick.PixelWand):  # {{{
     pass
 
 # }}}
 
-class DrawingWand(_magick.DrawingWand): # {{{
+class DrawingWand(_magick.DrawingWand):  # {{{
 
     @dynamic_property
     def font(self):
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ class DrawingWand(_magick.DrawingWand): # {{{
 
 # }}}
 
-class Image(_magick.Image): # {{{
+class Image(_magick.Image):  # {{{
 
     @property
     def clone(self):
@@ -126,9 +126,9 @@ class Image(_magick.Image): # {{{
         return ans
 
     def load(self, data):
-        data = bytes(data)
         if not data:
             raise ValueError('Cannot open image from empty data string')
+        data = bytes(data)
         return _magick.Image.load(self, data)
 
     def open(self, path_or_file):
@@ -165,7 +165,6 @@ class Image(_magick.Image): # {{{
             self.type_ = val
         return property(fget=fget, fset=fset, doc=_magick.Image.type_.__doc__)
 
-
     @dynamic_property
     def size(self):
         def fget(self):
@@ -181,7 +180,6 @@ class Image(_magick.Image): # {{{
             self.size_ = (int(val[0]), int(val[1]), filter, blur)
         return property(fget=fget, fset=fset, doc=_magick.Image.size_.__doc__)
 
-
     def save(self, path, format=None):
         if format is None:
             ext = os.path.splitext(path)[1]