diff --git a/lib/gvariant.nix b/lib/gvariant.nix
index f64808347ee8..3749e4c82d3b 100644
--- a/lib/gvariant.nix
+++ b/lib/gvariant.nix
@@ -191,7 +191,9 @@ rec {
   mkArray =
     elems:
     let
-      vs = map mkValue (lib.throwIf (elems == [ ]) "Please create empty array with mkEmptyArray." elems);
+      vs = map mkValue (
+        if elems == [ ] then throw "Please create empty array with mkEmptyArray." else elems
+      );
       elemType = lib.throwIfNot (lib.all (t: (head vs).type == t) (
         map (v: v.type) vs
       )) "Elements in a list should have same type." (head vs).type;