diff --git a/mongoengine/queryset/base.py b/mongoengine/queryset/base.py
index 94a6e4b5..cb48f6ca 100644
--- a/mongoengine/queryset/base.py
+++ b/mongoengine/queryset/base.py
@@ -154,22 +154,21 @@ class BaseQuerySet(object):
     def __iter__(self):
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    def has_data(self):
+    def _has_data(self):
         """ Retrieves whether cursor has any data. """
 
-        queryset = self.clone()
-        queryset._ordering = []
+        queryset = self.order_by()
         return False if queryset.first() is None else True
 
     def __nonzero__(self):
         """ Avoid to open all records in an if stmt in Py2. """
 
-        return self.has_data()
+        return self._has_data()
 
     def __bool__(self):
         """ Avoid to open all records in an if stmt in Py3. """
 
-        return self.has_data()
+        return self._has_data()
 
     # Core functions
 
@@ -1410,7 +1409,7 @@ class BaseQuerySet(object):
                 pass
             key_list.append((key, direction))
 
-        if self._cursor_obj:
+        if self._cursor_obj and key_list:
             self._cursor_obj.sort(key_list)
         return key_list
 
diff --git a/tests/queryset/queryset.py b/tests/queryset/queryset.py
index 38499df4..a2438e21 100644
--- a/tests/queryset/queryset.py
+++ b/tests/queryset/queryset.py
@@ -3908,9 +3908,6 @@ class QuerySetTest(unittest.TestCase):
             raise AssertionError('Cursor has data and it must returns True,'
                 ' even in the last item.')
 
-        self.assertTrue(queryset.has_data(), 'Cursor has data and '
-            'returned False')
-
     def test_bool_performance(self):
 
         class Person(Document):
@@ -3985,10 +3982,12 @@ class QuerySetTest(unittest.TestCase):
             op = q.db.system.profile.find({"ns": 
                 {"$ne": "%s.system.indexes" % q.db.name}})[0]
 
-            self.assertTrue('$orderby' in op['query'],
-                'BaseQuerySet cannot remove orderby from meta in boolen test')
+            self.assertFalse('$orderby' in op['query'],
+                'BaseQuerySet must remove orderby from meta in boolen test')
 
             self.assertEqual(Person.objects.first().name, 'A') 
+            self.assertTrue(Person.objects._has_data(),
+                            'Cursor has data and returned False')
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':