diff --git a/python/lsst/afw/math/_backgroundList.py b/python/lsst/afw/math/_backgroundList.py
index 656687d07..95418a1c9 100644
--- a/python/lsst/afw/math/_backgroundList.py
+++ b/python/lsst/afw/math/_backgroundList.py
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ def __getitem__(self, *args):
     def __len__(self, *args):
         return self._backgrounds.__len__(*args)
 
+    def __bool__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        return self._backgrounds.__bool__(*args, **kwargs)
+
     def append(self, val):
         try:
             bkgd, interpStyle, undersampleStyle, approxStyle, \