diff --git a/src/parser/lesser_block.rs b/src/parser/lesser_block.rs
index 4651d69..2829366 100644
--- a/src/parser/lesser_block.rs
+++ b/src/parser/lesser_block.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ use nom::combinator::peek;
 use nom::combinator::recognize;
 use nom::combinator::verify;
 use nom::multi::many_till;
+use nom::multi::separated_list0;
 use nom::multi::separated_list1;
 use nom::sequence::tuple;
 
@@ -162,7 +163,11 @@ pub(crate) fn example_block<'b, 'g, 'r, 's>(
     let (switches, number_lines, retain_labels, use_labels, label_format) = {
         if let Some(parameters) = parameters {
             (
-                Some(parameters.source),
+                if parameters.source.len() == 0 {
+                    None
+                } else {
+                    Some(parameters.source)
+                },
                 parameters.number_lines,
                 parameters.retain_labels,
                 parameters.use_labels,
@@ -260,7 +265,11 @@ pub(crate) fn src_block<'b, 'g, 'r, 's>(
     let (switches, language, number_lines, retain_labels, use_labels, label_format) = {
         if let Some(parameters) = parameters {
             (
-                Some(parameters.source),
+                if parameters.source.len() == 0 {
+                    None
+                } else {
+                    Some(parameters.source)
+                },
                 parameters.language,
                 parameters.number_lines,
                 parameters.retain_labels,
@@ -393,21 +402,23 @@ fn _example_src_switches<'s>(
     let mut label_format = None;
     let mut saw_r = false;
     let mut language = None;
-    let (remaining, (source, (words, _))) =
-        consumed(tuple((separated_list1(space1, switch_word), space0)))(input)?;
 
-    let mut words_iter = words.into_iter();
-    if grab_language {
-        match words_iter.next() {
-            Some(l) => {
-                language = Some(Into::<&str>::into(l));
-            }
-            None => {}
-        }
-    }
+    let remaining = if grab_language {
+        let (remain, first_word) = opt(map(tuple((switch_word, space0)), |(word, _)| word))(input)?;
+        language = first_word.map(Into::<&str>::into);
+        remain
+    } else {
+        input
+    };
+
+    let (remaining, (source, (words, _))) = if language.is_none() {
+        consumed(tuple((separated_list1(space1, switch_word), space0)))(remaining)?
+    } else {
+        consumed(tuple((separated_list0(space1, switch_word), space0)))(remaining)?
+    };
 
     let mut state = SwitchState::Normal;
-    for word in words_iter {
+    for word in words {
         let normalized_word = Into::<&str>::into(word);
         loop {
             match (&state, normalized_word) {