diff --git a/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/file.rktl b/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/file.rktl
index 7360d93662..aa77e7f3ee 100644
--- a/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/file.rktl
+++ b/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/file.rktl
@@ -1446,6 +1446,7 @@
   (err/rt-test (format "apple~"))
   (err/rt-test (format "~"))
   (err/rt-test (format "~~~"))
+  (err/rt-test (format "~s") (lambda (e) (regexp-match "requires one")))
   (err/rt-test (format "~o") exn:application:mismatch?)
   (err/rt-test (format "~o" 1 2) exn:application:mismatch?)
   (err/rt-test (format "~c" 1) exn:application:mismatch?)
diff --git a/racket/src/io/format/printf.rkt b/racket/src/io/format/printf.rkt
index 533e73e1d5..d7b2ee256b 100644
--- a/racket/src/io/format/printf.rkt
+++ b/racket/src/io/format/printf.rkt
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@
 
 (define (arguments->string fmt+args)
   (define args (cdr fmt+args))
-  (if (or (null? args) (<= (length args) 50))
+  (if (<= 1 (length args) 50)
       (parameterize ([error-print-width
                       (max 2 (round (/ (error-print-width) (length args))))])
         (apply string-append