diff --git a/api/views.py b/api/views.py
index 0ae5921267..08e98fa91a 100644
--- a/api/views.py
+++ b/api/views.py
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ def split_piped_params(params_string) -> List[str]:
         return params
 
     def _handle_warnings(self, data):
+        if len(data['available_versions']) == 0 and not self.oref.index_node.is_virtual:
+            return jsonResponse({'error': f'We have no text for {self.oref}.'}, status=404)
         data['warnings'] = []
         for lang, vtitle in data['missings']:
             if lang == 'source':
@@ -43,9 +45,6 @@ def _handle_warnings(self, data):
         return data
 
     def get(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
-        if self.oref.is_empty() and not self.oref.index_node.is_virtual:
-            return jsonResponse({'error': f'We have no text for {self.oref}.'}, status=404)
-
         versions_params = request.GET.getlist('version', [])
         if not versions_params:
             versions_params = ['primary']
diff --git a/sefaria/model/text.py b/sefaria/model/text.py
index d9a30bc06a..d00462d217 100644
--- a/sefaria/model/text.py
+++ b/sefaria/model/text.py
@@ -3746,7 +3746,7 @@ def is_empty(self, lang=None):
         """
         Checks if :class:`Ref` has any corresponding data in :class:`Version` records.
 
-        :return: Bool True is there is not text at this ref in any language
+        :return: Bool True is there is no text at this ref in any language
         """
 
         # The commented code is easier to understand, but the code we're using puts a lot less on the wire.