diff --git a/semantic_router/routers/base.py b/semantic_router/routers/base.py
index a9ff6ebad0466876780c00c3054eabe1831e00b4..f73f3cfc7a7017785e885a4ebbb0565cd8b0ab36 100644
--- a/semantic_router/routers/base.py
+++ b/semantic_router/routers/base.py
@@ -1086,7 +1086,7 @@ class BaseRouter(BaseModel):
         route_names = [route.name for route in routes for _ in route.utterances]
         utterances = [utterance for route in routes for utterance in route.utterances]
         function_schemas = [
-            route.function_schemas[0] if route.function_schemas is not None else {}
+            route.function_schemas[0] if route.function_schemas and len(route.function_schemas) > 0 else {}
             for route in routes
             for _ in route.utterances
         ]