diff --git a/src/sage/combinat/partition.py b/src/sage/combinat/partition.py
index 19eb4ddf19e..0a36518f722 100644
--- a/src/sage/combinat/partition.py
+++ b/src/sage/combinat/partition.py
@@ -4035,8 +4035,8 @@ def outside_corners(self):
             sage: Partition([]).outside_corners()
             [(0, 0)]
         """
-        p = self
-        if p.is_empty():
+        p = self._list
+        if not p:
             return [(0,0)]
         res = [(0, p[0])]
         res.extend((n, j) for n, (i, j) in enumerate(zip(p[:-1], p[1:]), start=1) if i != j)