Index: src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/filter/FilterBase.java =================================================================== --- src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/filter/FilterBase.java (revision 1451069) +++ src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/filter/FilterBase.java (working copy) @@ -152,7 +152,8 @@ * @return whether column family is essential */ public static boolean isFamilyEssential(Filter filter, byte[] name) { - return !(filter instanceof FilterBase) || ((FilterBase) filter).isFamilyEssential(name); + return (!(filter instanceof FilterBase) || ((FilterBase) filter).isFamilyEssential(name)) && + (!(filter instanceof FilterList) || ((FilterList) filter).isFamilyEssential(name)); } /**