diff --git a/mathics/builtin/base.py b/mathics/builtin/base.py
index 8b047d8f0..10994f721 100644
--- a/mathics/builtin/base.py
+++ b/mathics/builtin/base.py
@@ -287,7 +287,6 @@ def check_options(options_to_check, evaluation):
             # FIXME: sometimes pattern is a string and sometimes a BaseElement?
             # This seems wrong.
             if not isinstance(pattern, BaseElement):
-                assert pattern
                 pattern = pattern % {"name": name}
                 pattern = parse_builtin_rule(pattern, definition_class)
             replace = replace % {"name": name}