diff --git a/calendar/lib.php b/calendar/lib.php
index 43e9de89abc..381580eec01 100644
--- a/calendar/lib.php
+++ b/calendar/lib.php
@@ -3066,7 +3066,8 @@ function calendar_import_icalendar_events($ical, $unused = null, $subscriptionid
         }
     }
 
-    if (!empty($subscriptionid)) {
+    $existing = $DB->get_field('event_subscriptions', 'lastupdated', ['id' => $subscriptionid]);
+    if (!empty($existing)) {
         $eventsuuids = $DB->get_records_menu('event', ['subscriptionid' => $subscriptionid], '', 'id, uuid');
 
         $icaleventscount = count($icaluuids);