diff --git a/src/db.c b/src/db.c
index a8322d22818c0ba621a7f54629025f3f24cfa1cb..bfdb05004a2ef19594aca6494d19257098800760 100644
--- a/src/db.c
+++ b/src/db.c
@@ -481,8 +481,7 @@ void existsCommand(client *c) {
     int j;
 
     for (j = 1; j < c->argc; j++) {
-        expireIfNeeded(c->db,c->argv[j]);
-        if (dbExists(c->db,c->argv[j])) count++;
+        if (lookupKeyRead(c->db,c->argv[j])) count++;
     }
     addReplyLongLong(c,count);
 }