diff --git a/splunklib/searchcommands/internals.py b/splunklib/searchcommands/internals.py
index abceac30f..5f20c3faf 100644
--- a/splunklib/searchcommands/internals.py
+++ b/splunklib/searchcommands/internals.py
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ def write_record(self, record):
 
     def write_records(self, records):
         self._ensure_validity()
-        records = list(records)
+        records = [] if records is NotImplemented else list(records)
         write_record = self._write_record
         for record in records:
             write_record(record)
diff --git a/splunklib/searchcommands/reporting_command.py b/splunklib/searchcommands/reporting_command.py
index 5df3dc7e7..e455a159a 100644
--- a/splunklib/searchcommands/reporting_command.py
+++ b/splunklib/searchcommands/reporting_command.py
@@ -77,21 +77,26 @@ def map(self, records):
         """
         return NotImplemented
 
-    def prepare(self):
-
-        phase = self.phase
+    def _has_custom_method(self, method_name):
+        method = getattr(self.__class__, method_name, None)
+        base_method = getattr(ReportingCommand, method_name, None)
+        return callable(method) and (method is not base_method)
 
-        if phase == 'map':
-            # noinspection PyUnresolvedReferences
-            self._configuration = self.map.ConfigurationSettings(self)
+    def prepare(self):
+        if self.phase == 'map':
+            if self._has_custom_method('map'):
+                phase_method = getattr(self.__class__, 'map')
+                self._configuration = phase_method.ConfigurationSettings(self)
+            else:
+                self._configuration = self.ConfigurationSettings(self)
             return
 
-        if phase == 'reduce':
+        if self.phase == 'reduce':
             streaming_preop = chain((self.name, 'phase="map"', str(self._options)), self.fieldnames)
             self._configuration.streaming_preop = ' '.join(streaming_preop)
             return
 
-        raise RuntimeError(f'Unrecognized reporting command phase: {json_encode_string(str(phase))}')
+        raise RuntimeError(f'Unrecognized reporting command phase: {json_encode_string(str(self.phase))}')
 
     def reduce(self, records):
         """ Override this method to produce a reporting data structure.