diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 1e95838..c55cfa3 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ static int parse_section(struct parser *p) {
 			int ret = str_append_ch(section, ch);
 			assert(ret != -1);
 		} else if (ch == ')') {
-			if (!section->str) {
+			if (section->len == 0) {
 				break;
 			}
 			int sec = strtol(section->str, NULL, 10);
diff --git a/test/preamble b/test/preamble
index 1634877..05c8e2d 100755
--- a/test/preamble
+++ b/test/preamble
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ test
 EOF
 end 1
 
+begin "Expects a section within the parentheses"
+scdoc <<EOF >/dev/null
+test()
+EOF
+end 1
+
 begin "Expects name to alphanumeric"
 scdoc <<EOF >/dev/null
 !!!!(8)