diff --git a/lib/Table.php b/lib/Table.php
index 7434ff11c..e24943364 100644
--- a/lib/Table.php
+++ b/lib/Table.php
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ private function execute_eager_load($models=array(), $attrs=array(), $includes=a
 			// nested include
 			if (is_array($name))
 			{
-				$nested_includes = count($name) > 0 ? $name : array();
+				$nested_includes = $name;
 				$name = $index;
 			}
 			else