diff --git a/ziffers/classes.py b/ziffers/classes.py
index 6dab368..d5d3ad6 100644
--- a/ziffers/classes.py
+++ b/ziffers/classes.py
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ class Ziffers(Sequence):
     # pylint: disable=locally-disabled, dangerous-default-value
     def init_opts(self, options=None):
         """Evaluate the Ziffers tree using the options"""
-        if options is None:
+        if options is None or len(options)<=0:
             self.options = DEFAULT_OPTIONS
         else:
             self.options.update(options)
diff --git a/ziffers/parser.py b/ziffers/parser.py
index 4e5c7dd..1b83122 100644
--- a/ziffers/parser.py
+++ b/ziffers/parser.py
@@ -40,8 +40,7 @@ def zparse(expr: str, **opts) -> Ziffers:
         Ziffers: Returns Ziffers iterable parsed with the given options
     """
     parsed = parse_expression(expr)
-    if opts:
-        parsed.init_opts(opts)
+    parsed.init_opts(opts)
     return parsed
 
 
@@ -51,4 +50,3 @@ def zparse(expr: str, **opts) -> Ziffers:
 def z(expr: str, **opts) -> Ziffers:
     """Shortened method name for zparse"""
     return zparse(expr, **opts)
-    
\ No newline at end of file