--- modules/field/field.crud.inc
+++ modules/field/field.crud.inc
@@ -524,13 +524,12 @@ function field_read_fields($params = array(), $include_additional = array()) {
   foreach ($params as $key => $value) {
     $query->condition($key, $value);
   }
-  if (!isset($include_additional['include_inactive']) || !$include_additional['include_inactive']) {
+  if (empty($include_additional['include_inactive']) && empty($include_additional['include_deleted'])) {
     $query
       ->condition('fc.active', 1)
       ->condition('fc.storage_active', 1);
   }
-  $include_deleted = (isset($include_additional['include_deleted']) && $include_additional['include_deleted']);
-  if (!$include_deleted) {
+  if (empty($include_additional['include_deleted'])) {
     $query->condition('fc.deleted', 0);
   }