diff --git a/ezjail-admin b/ezjail-admin
index de91655..e343e6e 100755
--- a/ezjail-admin
+++ b/ezjail-admin
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ create)
   # if a directory at the specified jail root already exists, refuse to
   # install. Empty root dirs are considered okay, sometimes they are
   # mount points to be filled by ezjail.
-  [ -d ${ezjail_rootdir} ] && [ "`ls -A ${ezjail_rootdir} | wc -l`" -eq 0 ] && ezjail_rootdirempty="YES"
+  [ -d ${ezjail_rootdir} -a -z "`ls -I ${ezjail_rootdir}`" ] && ezjail_rootdirempty="YES"
   [ -e ${ezjail_rootdir} -a -z "${ezjail_rootdirempty}" -a -z "${ezjail_exists}" ] && exerr "Error: the specified jail root ${ezjail_rootdir} already exists."
 
   # if jail root specified on command line does not lie within our jail