diff --git a/dvc/scm/git/__init__.py b/dvc/scm/git/__init__.py
index 3983a7ef0..f35c83ccb 100644
--- a/dvc/scm/git/__init__.py
+++ b/dvc/scm/git/__init__.py
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ class Git(Base):
 
     @property
     def no_commits(self):
-        return not self.list_all_commits()
+        return not bool(self.get_ref("HEAD"))
 
     def _backend_func(self, name, *args, **kwargs):
         for backend in self.backends.values():