diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/tests/test_orm.py b/openerp/addons/base/tests/test_orm.py
index c6bb9310acb..0c877a43622 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/tests/test_orm.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/tests/test_orm.py
@@ -111,6 +111,18 @@ class TestORM(common.TransactionCase):
         found = self.partner.search_read(self.cr, UID, [['name', '=', 'Does not exists']], ['name'])
         self.assertEqual(len(found), 0)
 
+    def test_exists(self):
+        partner = self.partner.browse(self.cr, UID, [])
+
+        # check that records obtained from search exist
+        recs = partner.search([])
+        self.assertTrue(recs)
+        self.assertEqual(recs.exists(), recs)
+
+        # check that there is no record with id 0
+        recs = partner.browse([0])
+        self.assertFalse(recs.exists())
+
     def test_groupby_date(self):
         partners = dict(
             A='2012-11-19',
diff --git a/openerp/models.py b/openerp/models.py
index ad91afeb5d1..3f1bf70a54e 100644
--- a/openerp/models.py
+++ b/openerp/models.py
@@ -4774,14 +4774,15 @@ class BaseModel(object):
 
         By convention, new records are returned as existing.
         """
-        ids = filter(None, self._ids)           # ids to check in database
+        ids, new_ids = [], []
+        for i in self._ids:
+            (ids if isinstance(i, (int, long)) else new_ids).append(i)
         if not ids:
             return self
         query = """SELECT id FROM "%s" WHERE id IN %%s""" % self._table
-        self._cr.execute(query, (ids,))
-        ids = ([r[0] for r in self._cr.fetchall()] +    # ids in database
-               [id for id in self._ids if not id])      # new ids
-        existing = self.browse(ids)
+        self._cr.execute(query, [tuple(ids)])
+        ids = [r[0] for r in self._cr.fetchall()]
+        existing = self.browse(ids + new_ids)
         if len(existing) < len(self):
             # mark missing records in cache with a failed value
             exc = MissingError(_("Record does not exist or has been deleted."))