diff --git a/hr/doctype/appraisal/appraisal.py b/hr/doctype/appraisal/appraisal.py
index 849e48ac37..3d49c311d9 100644
--- a/hr/doctype/appraisal/appraisal.py
+++ b/hr/doctype/appraisal/appraisal.py
@@ -77,10 +77,9 @@ class DocType:
 			msgprint("Total weightage assigned should be 100%. It is :" + str(total_w) + "%", 
 				raise_exception=1)
 
-		if webnotes.conn.get_default("employee", webnotes.session.user) != self.doc.employee:
-		
-			if total==0:
-				msgprint("Total can't be zero. You must atleast give some points!", raise_exception=1)
+		if webnotes.conn.get_value("Employee", self.doc.employee, "user_id") != \
+				webnotes.session.user and total == 0:
+			msgprint("Total can't be zero. You must atleast give some points!", raise_exception=1)
 
 		self.doc.total_score = total