diff --git a/wp-content/themes/twentyeleven/showcase.php b/wp-content/themes/twentyeleven/showcase.php
index 9db191e015..a31b5a33f2 100644
--- a/wp-content/themes/twentyeleven/showcase.php
+++ b/wp-content/themes/twentyeleven/showcase.php
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ get_header(); ?>
 					 * We limit the featured posts at ten.
 					 */
 					$sticky = get_option( 'sticky_posts' );
+
+					// Proceed only if sticky posts exist.
+					if ( ! empty( $sticky ) ) :
+
 					$featured_args = array(
 						'post__in' => $sticky,
 						'post_status' => 'publish',
@@ -50,9 +54,6 @@ get_header(); ?>
 					// The Featured Posts query.
 					$featured = new WP_Query( $featured_args );
 
-					// Proceed only if sticky posts exist.
-					if ( $featured->have_posts() ) :
-
 					/**
 					 * We will need to count featured posts starting from zero
 					 * to create the slider navigation.