diff --git a/libraries/octree/src/OctreeElement.h b/libraries/octree/src/OctreeElement.h
index 1785307696..cbdad959be 100644
--- a/libraries/octree/src/OctreeElement.h
+++ b/libraries/octree/src/OctreeElement.h
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ public:
     float distanceSquareToPoint(const glm::vec3& point) const; // when you don't need the actual distance, use this.
     float distanceToPoint(const glm::vec3& point) const;
 
-    bool isLeaf() const { return getChildCount() == 0; }
+    bool isLeaf() const { return _childBitmask == 0; }
     int getChildCount() const { return numberOfOnes(_childBitmask); }
     void printDebugDetails(const char* label) const;
     bool isDirty() const { return _isDirty; }