diff --git a/lib/regexp-examples/parser.rb b/lib/regexp-examples/parser.rb
index 2c85eb9..96bf19e 100644
--- a/lib/regexp-examples/parser.rb
+++ b/lib/regexp-examples/parser.rb
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def initialize(regexp_string, regexp_options)
     end
 
     def parse
-      repeaters = []
+      repeaters = [PlaceHolderGroup.new]
       until end_of_regexp
         group = parse_group(repeaters)
         return [group] if group.is_a? OrGroup
diff --git a/spec/regexp-examples_spec.rb b/spec/regexp-examples_spec.rb
index 019d943..2fb7403 100644
--- a/spec/regexp-examples_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/regexp-examples_spec.rb
@@ -261,6 +261,10 @@ def self.examples_are_empty(*regexps)
       )
     end
 
+    context 'for empty regex' do
+      it { expect(//.examples).to eq [''] }
+    end
+
     context 'for comment groups' do
       examples_exist_and_match(
         /a(?#comment)b/,