diff --git a/rowers/dataprep.py b/rowers/dataprep.py
index 4aa48fec..dceb1523 100644
--- a/rowers/dataprep.py
+++ b/rowers/dataprep.py
@@ -2531,7 +2531,7 @@ def read_cols_df_sql(ids, columns, convertnewtons=True):
     columns = list(set(columns))
     ids = [int(id) for id in ids]
 
-    df = pd.DataFrame({})
+    df = pd.DataFrame()
 
 
     if len(ids) == 0: