diff --git a/libraries/chain/protocol/asset.cpp b/libraries/chain/protocol/asset.cpp
index e1169b0c..c47d88e3 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/protocol/asset.cpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/protocol/asset.cpp
@@ -130,7 +130,11 @@ namespace graphene { namespace chain {
          return ~(asset( cp.numerator().convert_to<int64_t>(), debt.asset_id ) / asset( cp.denominator().convert_to<int64_t>(), collateral.asset_id ));
       } FC_CAPTURE_AND_RETHROW( (debt)(collateral)(collateral_ratio) ) }
 
-      bool price::is_null() const { return *this == price(); }
+      bool price::is_null() const
+      {
+         // Effectively same as "return *this == price();" but perhaps faster
+         return ( base.asset_id == asset_id_type() && quote.asset_id == asset_id_type() );
+      }
 
       void price::validate() const
       { try {