diff -u b/src/Entity/EckEntity.php b/src/Entity/EckEntity.php
--- b/src/Entity/EckEntity.php
+++ b/src/Entity/EckEntity.php
@@ -29,10 +29,7 @@
    */
   public function getOwner() {
     if ($this->hasField('uid')) {
-      $uid = $this->get('uid');
-      if ($uid->count() > 0) {
-        return  $uid->first()->entity;
-      }
+      return $this->get('uid')->entity;
     }
     return NULL;
   }
@@ -41,8 +38,8 @@
    * {@inheritdoc}
    */
   public function getOwnerId() {
-    if ($owner = $this->getOwner()) {
-      return $owner->id();
+    if ($this->hasField('uid')) {
+      return $this->get('uid')->target_id;
     }
     return NULL;
   }