diff --git a/R/E_loo.R b/R/E_loo.R
index 730bce70..2fef401a 100644
--- a/R/E_loo.R
+++ b/R/E_loo.R
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ E_loo_khat.matrix <- function(x, psis_object, log_ratios, ...) {
   h_theta <- x_i
   r_theta <- exp(log_ratios_i - max(log_ratios_i))
   khat_r <- posterior::pareto_khat(r_theta, tail = "right", ndraws_tail = tail_len_i)
-  if (!is.na(khat_r)) { # https://github.com/stan-dev/loo/issues/263
+  if (is.list(khat_r)) { # retain compatiblity with older posterior that returned a list
     khat_r <- khat_r$khat
   }
   if (is.null(x_i) || is_constant(x_i) || length(unique(x_i))==2 ||
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ E_loo_khat.matrix <- function(x, psis_object, log_ratios, ...) {
     khat_r
   } else {
     khat_hr <- posterior::pareto_khat(h_theta * r_theta, tail = "both", ndraws_tail = tail_len_i)
-    if (!is.na(khat_hr)) { # https://github.com/stan-dev/loo/issues/263
+    if (is.list(khat_hr)) { # retain compatiblity with older posterior that returned a list
       khat_hr <- khat_hr$khat
     }
     if (is.na(khat_hr) && is.na(khat_r)) {