diff --git semanticviews.theme.inc semanticviews.theme.inc
index fdd3e91..7421978 100644
--- semanticviews.theme.inc
+++ semanticviews.theme.inc
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ function template_preprocess_semanticviews_view_fields(&$vars) {
   foreach ($view->field as $id => $field) {
     // render this even if set to exclude so it can be used elsewhere.
     $field_output = $view->style_plugin->get_field($view->row_index, $id);
-    $empty = $field_output !== 0 && empty($field_output);
+    $empty = $field_output !== 0 && empty($view->result[$view->row_index]->{$field->field_alias});
     if (empty($field->options['exclude']) && !(($vars['options']['skip_blank'] || $field->options['hide_empty']) && $empty)) {
       $object = new stdClass();