diff --git a/src/db/db/dbOriginalLayerRegion.cc b/src/db/db/dbOriginalLayerRegion.cc
index 44f22c604..a4c15e76c 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbOriginalLayerRegion.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/dbOriginalLayerRegion.cc
@@ -330,7 +330,11 @@ OriginalLayerRegion::begin_merged_iter () const
 bool
 OriginalLayerRegion::empty () const
 {
-  return m_iter.at_end ();
+  //  NOTE: we should to make sure the iterator isn't validated as this would spoil the usability or OriginalLayerRegion upon
+  //  layout changes
+  db::RecursiveShapeIterator iter = m_iter;
+
+  return iter.at_end ();
 }
 
 bool