diff --git a/examples/server/utils.hpp b/examples/server/utils.hpp
index 36ad276fd3ce0..58cdd6af92974 100644
--- a/examples/server/utils.hpp
+++ b/examples/server/utils.hpp
@@ -621,7 +621,9 @@ static json oaicompat_completion_params_parse(
 
     llama_params["chat_format"]      = static_cast<int>(chat_params.format);
     llama_params["prompt"]           = chat_params.prompt;
-    llama_params["grammar"]          = chat_params.grammar;
+    if (!chat_params.grammar.empty()) {
+        llama_params["grammar"] = chat_params.grammar;
+    }
     llama_params["grammar_lazy"]     = chat_params.grammar_lazy;
     auto grammar_triggers = json::array();
     for (const auto & trigger : chat_params.grammar_triggers) {