diff --git a/yang/frr-nexthop.yang b/yang/frr-nexthop.yang
index 2df2e2958e..adcbacbfea 100644
--- a/yang/frr-nexthop.yang
+++ b/yang/frr-nexthop.yang
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ module frr-nexthop {
     type union {
       type inet:ip-address;
       type string {
-        pattern "";
+        length "0";
       }
     }
   }