diff --git a/src/magic.cpp b/src/magic.cpp
index b07b5dd4591e5..36fbe3876022a 100644
--- a/src/magic.cpp
+++ b/src/magic.cpp
@@ -977,6 +977,11 @@ bool known_magic::knows_spell( const spell_id &sp ) const
     return spellbook.count( sp ) == 1;
 }
 
+bool known_magic::knows_spell() const
+{
+    return !spellbook.empty();
+}
+
 void known_magic::learn_spell( const std::string &sp, player &p, bool force )
 {
     learn_spell( spell_id( sp ), p, force );
diff --git a/src/magic.h b/src/magic.h
index c4ac1bd4ed008..01d9add7c9122 100644
--- a/src/magic.h
+++ b/src/magic.h
@@ -340,6 +340,8 @@ class known_magic
         bool can_learn_spell( const player &p, const spell_id &sp ) const;
         bool knows_spell( const std::string &sp ) const;
         bool knows_spell( const spell_id &sp ) const;
+        // does the player know a spell?
+        bool knows_spell() const;
         // spells known by player
         std::vector<spell_id> spells() const;
         // gets the spell associated with the spell_id to be edited
diff --git a/src/panels.cpp b/src/panels.cpp
index 0b792e4ee8711..6afac346404f2 100644
--- a/src/panels.cpp
+++ b/src/panels.cpp
@@ -1741,7 +1741,7 @@ static void draw_mana( const player &u, const catacurses::window &w )
 
 static bool spell_panel()
 {
-    return !spell_type::get_all().empty();
+    return g->u.magic.knows_spell();
 }
 
 bool default_render()