diff --git a/src/ast/ast.cpp b/src/ast/ast.cpp
index 59efb2a89..2881f1b62 100644
--- a/src/ast/ast.cpp
+++ b/src/ast/ast.cpp
@@ -2046,8 +2046,14 @@ inline app * ast_manager::mk_app_core(func_decl * decl, expr * arg1, expr * arg2
 }
 
 app * ast_manager::mk_app(func_decl * decl, unsigned num_args, expr * const * args) {
-    if (decl->get_arity() != num_args && !decl->is_right_associative() && 
-        !decl->is_left_associative() && !decl->is_chainable()) {
+    bool type_error = 
+        decl->get_arity() != num_args && !decl->is_right_associative() && 
+        !decl->is_left_associative() && !decl->is_chainable();
+
+    type_error |= (decl->get_arity() != num_args && num_args < 2 && 
+                   decl->get_family_id() == m_basic_family_id && !decl->is_associative());
+
+    if (type_error) {
         std::ostringstream buffer;
         buffer << "Wrong number of arguments (" << num_args 
                << ") passed to function " << mk_pp(decl, *this);