diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index 3563bac3..2eba55ab 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+0.56.3
+ - fix: regression missing check for basin availability
 0.56.2
  - enh: perform basin availability checks in daemon thread
 0.56.1
diff --git a/dclab/rtdc_dataset/feat_basin.py b/dclab/rtdc_dataset/feat_basin.py
index 25498683..9ebb787a 100644
--- a/dclab/rtdc_dataset/feat_basin.py
+++ b/dclab/rtdc_dataset/feat_basin.py
@@ -125,11 +125,14 @@ def features(self):
            Return nested basin features
         """
         if self._features is None:
-            # If features are not specified already, either by previous call
-            # to this method or during initialization from basin definition,
-            # then make the innate and *all* the basin features available.
-            self._features = sorted(set(self.ds.features_innate
-                                        + self.ds.features_basin))
+            if self.is_available():
+                # If features are not specified already, either by previous call
+                # to this method or during initialization from basin definition,
+                # then make the innate and *all* the basin features available.
+                self._features = sorted(set(self.ds.features_innate
+                                            + self.ds.features_basin))
+            else:
+                self._features = []
         return self._features
 
     def as_dict(self):