diff --git a/lights.js b/lights.js
index a4c4caf..0b5c38c 100644
--- a/lights.js
+++ b/lights.js
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ function tick_pattern() {
   // do the parsing stuff here
   log.debug("TICKING PATTERN")
 
-  if (Object.keys(pattern).length > 0) {
+  if (pattern.length > 0) {
     for (let i = 0; i < cfg.leds; i++) {
       for (let command of pattern) {
         let name = command.command;