diff --git a/tailbone/grids/core.py b/tailbone/grids/core.py
index 442568de..a6672270 100644
--- a/tailbone/grids/core.py
+++ b/tailbone/grids/core.py
@@ -1194,8 +1194,16 @@ class Grid(object):
         status_map = {}
         checked = []
 
+        # we check for 'all' method and if so, assume we have a Query;
+        # otherwise we assume it's something we can use len() with, which could
+        # be a list or a Paginator
+        if hasattr(raw_data, 'all'):
+            count = raw_data.count()
+        else:
+            count = len(raw_data)
+
         # iterate over data rows
-        for i in range(len(raw_data)):
+        for i in range(count):
             rowobj = raw_data[i]
             row = {}
 
@@ -1262,6 +1270,8 @@ class Grid(object):
             results['pages'] = self.pager.page_count
             results['first_item'] = self.pager.first_item
             results['last_item'] = self.pager.last_item
+        else:
+            results['total_items'] = count
 
         return results