diff --git a/ceilometer/storage/impl_mongodb.py b/ceilometer/storage/impl_mongodb.py
index 439f5098a..44ecccde0 100644
--- a/ceilometer/storage/impl_mongodb.py
+++ b/ceilometer/storage/impl_mongodb.py
@@ -534,9 +534,9 @@ class Connection(base.Connection):
         :param sort_dir: Direction with which results be sorted(asc, desc).
         """
 
-        if marker_pairs is not None:
+        if marker_pairs:
             raise NotImplementedError(
-                "Cannot use marker pairs in resource listing")
+                "Cannot use marker pairs in resource listing, not implemented")
 
         q = {}
         if user is not None: