diff --git a/src/datajoint/expression.py b/src/datajoint/expression.py
index 971a1ee5e..354e3ef35 100644
--- a/src/datajoint/expression.py
+++ b/src/datajoint/expression.py
@@ -728,7 +728,7 @@ def to_polars(self, order_by=None, limit=None, offset=None, squeeze=False):
         try:
             import polars
         except ImportError:
-            raise ImportError("polars is required for to_polars(). " "Install with: pip install datajoint[polars]")
+            raise ImportError("polars is required for to_polars(). Install with: pip install datajoint[polars]")
         dicts = self.to_dicts(order_by=order_by, limit=limit, offset=offset, squeeze=squeeze)
         return polars.DataFrame(dicts)
 
@@ -747,7 +747,7 @@ def to_arrow(self, order_by=None, limit=None, offset=None, squeeze=False):
         try:
             import pyarrow
         except ImportError:
-            raise ImportError("pyarrow is required for to_arrow(). " "Install with: pip install datajoint[arrow]")
+            raise ImportError("pyarrow is required for to_arrow(). Install with: pip install datajoint[arrow]")
         dicts = self.to_dicts(order_by=order_by, limit=limit, offset=offset, squeeze=squeeze)
         if not dicts:
             return pyarrow.table({})
@@ -1039,7 +1039,7 @@ def __len__(self):
         ).fetchone()[0]
 
     def __bool__(self):
-        return bool(self.connection.query("SELECT EXISTS({sql})".format(sql=self.make_sql())))
+        return bool(self.connection.query("SELECT EXISTS({sql})".format(sql=self.make_sql())).fetchone()[0])
 
 
 class Union(QueryExpression):
@@ -1101,7 +1101,7 @@ def __len__(self):
         ).fetchone()[0]
 
     def __bool__(self):
-        return bool(self.connection.query("SELECT EXISTS({sql})".format(sql=self.make_sql())))
+        return bool(self.connection.query("SELECT EXISTS({sql})".format(sql=self.make_sql())).fetchone()[0])
 
 
 class U:
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_aggr_regressions.py b/tests/integration/test_aggr_regressions.py
index 22d10c676..cf4f920b0 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_aggr_regressions.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_aggr_regressions.py
@@ -180,3 +180,70 @@ def test_extend_invalid_raises_error(schema_uuid):
     with pytest.raises(DataJointError) as exc_info:
         Topic.extend(Item)
     assert "left operand to determine" in str(exc_info.value).lower()
+
+
+class TestBoolMethod:
+    """
+    Tests for __bool__ method on Aggregation and Union (issue #1234).
+
+    bool(query) should return True if query has rows, False if empty.
+    """
+
+    def test_aggregation_bool_with_results(self, schema_aggr_reg_with_abx):
+        """Aggregation with results should be truthy."""
+        A.insert([(1,), (2,), (3,)])
+        B.insert([(1, 10), (1, 20), (2, 30)])
+        aggr = A.aggr(B, count="count(id2)")
+        assert bool(aggr) is True
+        assert len(aggr) > 0
+
+    def test_aggregation_bool_empty(self, schema_aggr_reg_with_abx):
+        """Aggregation with no results should be falsy."""
+        A.insert([(1,), (2,), (3,)])
+        B.insert([(1, 10), (1, 20), (2, 30)])
+        # Restrict to non-existent entry
+        aggr = (A & "id=999").aggr(B, count="count(id2)")
+        assert bool(aggr) is False
+        assert len(aggr) == 0
+
+    def test_aggregation_bool_matches_len(self, schema_aggr_reg_with_abx):
+        """bool(aggr) should equal len(aggr) > 0."""
+        A.insert([(10,), (20,)])
+        B.insert([(10, 100)])
+        # With results
+        aggr_has = A.aggr(B, count="count(id2)")
+        assert bool(aggr_has) == (len(aggr_has) > 0)
+        # Without results
+        aggr_empty = (A & "id=999").aggr(B, count="count(id2)")
+        assert bool(aggr_empty) == (len(aggr_empty) > 0)
+
+    def test_union_bool_with_results(self, schema_aggr_reg_with_abx):
+        """Union with results should be truthy."""
+        A.insert([(100,), (200,)])
+        B.insert([(100, 1), (200, 2)])
+        q1 = B & "id=100"
+        q2 = B & "id=200"
+        union = q1 + q2
+        assert bool(union) is True
+        assert len(union) > 0
+
+    def test_union_bool_empty(self, schema_aggr_reg_with_abx):
+        """Union with no results should be falsy."""
+        A.insert([(100,), (200,)])
+        B.insert([(100, 1), (200, 2)])
+        q1 = B & "id=999"
+        q2 = B & "id=998"
+        union = q1 + q2
+        assert bool(union) is False
+        assert len(union) == 0
+
+    def test_union_bool_matches_len(self, schema_aggr_reg_with_abx):
+        """bool(union) should equal len(union) > 0."""
+        A.insert([(100,), (200,)])
+        B.insert([(100, 1)])
+        # With results
+        union_has = (B & "id=100") + (B & "id=100")
+        assert bool(union_has) == (len(union_has) > 0)
+        # Without results
+        union_empty = (B & "id=999") + (B & "id=998")
+        assert bool(union_empty) == (len(union_empty) > 0)