diff --git a/addons/base_vat/base_vat.py b/addons/base_vat/base_vat.py
index 5b1e824fdbd..2b4f185cfc0 100644
--- a/addons/base_vat/base_vat.py
+++ b/addons/base_vat/base_vat.py
@@ -63,12 +63,11 @@ class res_partner(osv.osv):
             if not partner.vat:
                 continue
             vat_country, vat_number = self._split_vat(partner.vat)
-            if not _ref_vat.has_key(vat_country):
+            if not hasattr(self, 'check_vat_' + vat_country):
                 country_code = vat_country.upper()
                 code = self.pool.get('res.country').search(cr, uid, [('code', '=', country_code)])
                 if code:
                     continue
-            if not hasattr(self, 'check_vat_' + vat_country):
                 return False
             check = getattr(self, 'check_vat_' + vat_country)
             if not check(vat_number):