diff --git a/constance/backends/database.py b/constance/backends/database.py
index 592e3d9..68c01e2 100644
--- a/constance/backends/database.py
+++ b/constance/backends/database.py
@@ -68,19 +68,16 @@ class DatabaseBackend(Backend):
 
     def get(self, key):
         key = self.add_prefix(key)
+        value = None
         if self._cache:
             value = self._cache.get(key)
             if value is None:
                 self.autofill()
                 value = self._cache.get(key)
-        else:
-            value = None
         if value is None:
-            match = self._model._default_manager.filter(key=key)
-            if len(match) == 0:
-                pass
-            else:
-                value = match.first().value
+            match = self._model._default_manager.filter(key=key).first()
+            if match:
+                value = match.value
                 if self._cache:
                     self._cache.add(key, value)
         return value
diff --git a/tests/backends/test_database.py b/tests/backends/test_database.py
index d6e0a94..267892b 100644
--- a/tests/backends/test_database.py
+++ b/tests/backends/test_database.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class TestDatabase(StorageTestsMixin, TestCase):
         with self.assertNumQueries(5):
             self.config.INT_VALUE
 
-        # Read
+        # Read again
         with self.assertNumQueries(1):
             self.config.INT_VALUE