diff --git a/basis/splitting/monotonic/monotonic-tests.factor b/basis/splitting/monotonic/monotonic-tests.factor
index 5e1e1ce25e..77dccfb434 100644
--- a/basis/splitting/monotonic/monotonic-tests.factor
+++ b/basis/splitting/monotonic/monotonic-tests.factor
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 IN: splitting.monotonic
 USING: tools.test math arrays kernel sequences ;
 
+{ { } } [ { } [ < ] monotonic-split ] unit-test
 [ { { 1 } { -1 5 } { 2 4 } } ]
 [ { 1 -1 5 2 4 } [ < ] monotonic-split [ >array ] map ] unit-test
 [ { { 1 1 1 1 } { 2 2 } { 3 } { 4 } { 5 } { 6 6 6 } } ]
diff --git a/basis/splitting/monotonic/monotonic.factor b/basis/splitting/monotonic/monotonic.factor
index 68aa6b6815..2e37b1d279 100644
--- a/basis/splitting/monotonic/monotonic.factor
+++ b/basis/splitting/monotonic/monotonic.factor
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ IN: splitting.monotonic
 PRIVATE>
 
 : monotonic-split ( seq quot: ( obj1 obj2 -- ? ) -- newseq )
-    [ drop { } ] [ (monotonic-split) ] if-empty ; inline
+    over empty? [ 2drop { } ] [ (monotonic-split) ] if ; inline
 
 <PRIVATE