diff --git a/spacy/pipeline/spancat.py b/spacy/pipeline/spancat.py
index fc6ad5ee1..5c1f77cf6 100644
--- a/spacy/pipeline/spancat.py
+++ b/spacy/pipeline/spancat.py
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ class SpanCategorizer(TrainablePipe):
         DOCS: https://spacy.io/api/spancategorizer#predict
         """
         indices = self.suggester(docs, ops=self.model.ops)
-        if sum(indices.lengths) == 0:
+        if indices.lengths.sum() == 0:
             scores = self.model.ops.alloc2f(0, 0)
         else:
             scores = self.model.predict((docs, indices))  # type: ignore