diff --git a/lib/std/core/string.c3 b/lib/std/core/string.c3
index 58e20bc00..fd2e5f2d8 100644
--- a/lib/std/core/string.c3
+++ b/lib/std/core/string.c3
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ fn String String.strip_end(self, String suffix)
  @param [&inout] allocator : "The allocator to use for the String[]"
 
  @require delimiter.len > 0 : "The delimiter must be at least 1 character long"
- @ensure return.len > 0
+ @ensure return.len > 0 || skip_empty
 *>
 fn String[] String.split(self, Allocator allocator, String delimiter, usz max = 0, bool skip_empty = false)
 {
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ faultdef BUFFER_EXCEEDED;
  @param [inout] buffer
  @param max : "Max number of elements, 0 means no limit, defaults to 0"
  @require delimiter.len > 0 : "The delimiter must be at least 1 character long"
- @ensure return.len > 0
+ @ensure return.len > 0 || skip_empty
  @return? BUFFER_EXCEEDED : `If there are more elements than would fit the buffer`
 *>
 fn String[]? String.split_to_buffer(s, String delimiter, String[] buffer, usz max = 0, bool skip_empty = false)
diff --git a/releasenotes.md b/releasenotes.md
index cae057f14..d99d5782e 100644
--- a/releasenotes.md
+++ b/releasenotes.md
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@
 - Compiler didn't check foreach over flexible array member, and folding a flexible array member was allowed #2164.
 - Too strict project view #2163.
 - Bug using `#foo` arguments with `$defined` #2173
+- Incorrect ensure on String.split.
 
 ### Stdlib changes
 - Added `String.quick_ztr` and `String.is_zstr`