diff --git a/core/modules/hal/src/Normalizer/FieldItemNormalizer.php b/core/modules/hal/src/Normalizer/FieldItemNormalizer.php
index b5f37d74c4..72c28a3383 100644
--- a/core/modules/hal/src/Normalizer/FieldItemNormalizer.php
+++ b/core/modules/hal/src/Normalizer/FieldItemNormalizer.php
@@ -133,8 +133,8 @@ protected function createTranslatedInstance(FieldItemInterface $item, $langcode)
     $field_name = $item->getFieldDefinition()->getName();
     $field = $entity_translation->get($field_name);
 
-    // Append an item only if the field is empty or allows multiple values.
-    if ($field->isEmpty() || $item->getFieldDefinition()->getFieldStorageDefinition()->isMultiple()) {
+    // Append an item only if the item list is empty or allows multiple values.
+    if (!count($field) || $item->getFieldDefinition()->getFieldStorageDefinition()->isMultiple()) {
       return $field->appendItem();
     }
     return $field->first();