diff --git a/responses_api_models/vllm_model/app.py b/responses_api_models/vllm_model/app.py
index 4c300e312..b9ae0c495 100644
--- a/responses_api_models/vllm_model/app.py
+++ b/responses_api_models/vllm_model/app.py
@@ -704,7 +704,7 @@ def responses_to_chat_completion_create_params(
             responses_create_params["max_tokens"] = max_output_tokens
 
         tools = responses_create_params.pop("tools", None)
-        if tools is not None:
+        if tools:
             responses_create_params["tools"] = []
             for tool_dict in tools:
                 tool_dict = tool_dict.copy()