diff --git a/Python/ast.c b/Python/ast.c
index a415495..4a85164 100644
--- a/Python/ast.c
+++ b/Python/ast.c
@@ -402,10 +402,13 @@
             s = e->v.List.elts;
             break;
         case Tuple_kind:
-            if (asdl_seq_LEN(e->v.Tuple.elts) == 0) 
-                return ast_error(n, "can't assign to ()");
-            e->v.Tuple.ctx = ctx;
-            s = e->v.Tuple.elts;
+            if (asdl_seq_LEN(e->v.Tuple.elts))  {
+                e->v.Tuple.ctx = ctx;
+                s = e->v.Tuple.elts;
+            }
+            else {
+                expr_name = "()";
+            }
             break;
         case Lambda_kind:
             expr_name = "lambda";