diff --git a/src/expr_parser.cpp b/src/expr_parser.cpp
index 24783df4..09212ddc 100644
--- a/src/expr_parser.cpp
+++ b/src/expr_parser.cpp
@@ -168,21 +168,28 @@ Expr ExprParser::parseExpr()
             // if a binder, read a variable list and push a scope
             if (d_state.isBinder(v.getValue()))
             {
-              nscopes = 1;
               // If it is a binder, immediately read the bound variable list.
               // If option d_binderFresh is true, we parse and bind fresh
               // variables. Otherwise, we make calls to State::getBoundVar
               // meaning the bound variables are unique for each (name, type)
               // pair.
-              bool isLookup = !d_state.getOptions().d_binderFresh;
-              d_state.pushScope();
-              std::vector<Expr> vs = parseAndBindSortedVarList(isLookup);
-              if (vs.empty())
+              tok = d_lex.peekToken();
+              // We only do this if there is a left parenthesis. Otherwise we
+              // will parse a tuple term that stands for a symbolic bound
+              // variable list.
+              if (tok==Token::LPAREN)
               {
-                d_lex.parseError("Expected non-empty sorted variable list");
+                nscopes = 1;
+                bool isLookup = !d_state.getOptions().d_binderFresh;
+                d_state.pushScope();
+                std::vector<Expr> vs = parseAndBindSortedVarList(isLookup);
+                if (vs.empty())
+                {
+                  d_lex.parseError("Expected non-empty sorted variable list");
+                }
+                Expr vl = d_state.mkExpr(Kind::TUPLE, vs);
+                args.push_back(vl);
               }
-              Expr vl = d_state.mkExpr(Kind::TUPLE, vs);
-              args.push_back(vl);
             }
             pstack.emplace_back(ParseCtx::NEXT_ARG, nscopes, args);
           }
diff --git a/tests/binder-ex.smt3 b/tests/binder-ex.smt3
index 19c70b2e..404d60d1 100644
--- a/tests/binder-ex.smt3
+++ b/tests/binder-ex.smt3
@@ -6,9 +6,18 @@
 (declare-rule id ((y Bool)) :premises (y) :conclusion y)
 
 (assume @p0 (forall ((x Int)) (P x)))
+(assume @p2 (forall ((x Int)) false))
+
 
 ; should match
 (step @p1 (forall ((x Int)) (P x)) :rule id :premises (@p0))
 
 ; wrong
 ; (step @p1 (forall ((z Int)) (P z)) :rule id :premises (@p0))
+
+
+(declare-rule q-rule ((xs ?))
+  :premises ((forall xs false))
+  :conclusion false)
+
+(step @p3 false :rule q-rule :premises (@p2))