diff --git a/autoload/airline/extensions/hunks.vim b/autoload/airline/extensions/hunks.vim
index 9da481d..084dd7b 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/extensions/hunks.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/extensions/hunks.vim
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ function! s:get_hunks_signify()
 endfunction
 
 function! s:is_branch_empty()
-  return get(g:, 'airline#extensions#branch#enabled', 1) && empty(airline#extensions#branch#head())
+  return exists('*airline#extensions#branch#head') && empty(airline#extensions#branch#head())
 endfunction
 
 function! s:get_hunks_gitgutter()