diff --git a/src/shell_parser/parse.rs b/src/shell_parser/parse.rs
index 8ae38c01f92..0961042fb71 100644
--- a/src/shell_parser/parse.rs
+++ b/src/shell_parser/parse.rs
@@ -1915,10 +1915,7 @@ impl<'bump> Parser<'bump> {
 
         Ok(match atoms.len() {
             0 => None,
-            1 => {
-                debug_assert!(atoms.capacity() == 1);
-                Some(ast::Atom::new_simple(atoms.into_iter().next().unwrap()))
-            }
+            1 => Some(ast::Atom::new_simple(atoms.into_iter().next().unwrap())),
             _ => Some(ast::Atom::Compound(ast::CompoundAtom {
                 atoms: atoms.into_bump_slice(),
                 brace_expansion_hint: has_brace_open && has_brace_close && has_comma,
diff --git a/test/js/bun/shell/parse.test.ts b/test/js/bun/shell/parse.test.ts
index a091858e9dc..2da7a674bc1 100644
--- a/test/js/bun/shell/parse.test.ts
+++ b/test/js/bun/shell/parse.test.ts
@@ -59,6 +59,42 @@ describe("parse shell", () => {
     expect(result).toEqual(expected);
   });
 
+  test("single atom", () => {
+    expect(JSON.parse(parse`ls`)).toEqual({
+      stmts: [
+        {
+          exprs: [
+            {
+              cmd: {
+                assigns: [],
+                name_and_args: [{ simple: { Text: "ls" } }],
+                redirect: redirect({}),
+                redirect_file: null,
+              },
+            },
+          ],
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+
+    expect(JSON.parse(parse`echo ~`)).toEqual({
+      stmts: [
+        {
+          exprs: [
+            {
+              cmd: {
+                assigns: [],
+                name_and_args: [{ simple: { Text: "echo" } }, { simple: { tilde: {} } }],
+                redirect: redirect({}),
+                redirect_file: null,
+              },
+            },
+          ],
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+  });
+
   test("compound atom", () => {
     const expected = {
       stmts: [