diff --git a/holoviews/plotting/bokeh/element.py b/holoviews/plotting/bokeh/element.py
index 9e91e0e33a..1fba5bc8c4 100644
--- a/holoviews/plotting/bokeh/element.py
+++ b/holoviews/plotting/bokeh/element.py
@@ -602,7 +602,7 @@ def initialize_plot(self, ranges=None, plot=None, plots=None, source=None):
         """
         # Get element key and ranges for frame
         if self.batched:
-            element = [el for el in self.hmap.data.values() if len(el)][-1]
+            element = [el for el in self.hmap.data.values() if el][-1]
         else:
             element = self.hmap.last
         key = self.keys[-1]
@@ -1175,7 +1175,7 @@ def _get_factors(self, overlay):
 
     def initialize_plot(self, ranges=None, plot=None, plots=None):
         key = self.keys[-1]
-        nonempty = [el for el in self.hmap.data.values() if len(el)]
+        nonempty = [el for el in self.hmap.data.values() if el]
         if not nonempty:
             raise SkipRendering('All Overlays empty, cannot initialize plot.')
         element = nonempty[-1]
diff --git a/holoviews/plotting/plot.py b/holoviews/plotting/plot.py
index 262ea88834..b3c1a9259c 100644
--- a/holoviews/plotting/plot.py
+++ b/holoviews/plotting/plot.py
@@ -569,7 +569,7 @@ def __init__(self, element, keys=None, ranges=None, dimensions=None,
 
         plot_element = self.hmap.last
         if self.batched and not isinstance(self, GenericOverlayPlot):
-            plot_element = [el for el in plot_element if len(el) > 0][-1]
+            plot_element = [el for el in plot_element if el][-1]
 
         top_level = keys is None
         if top_level: