diff --git a/src/pyobo/struct/struct_utils.py b/src/pyobo/struct/struct_utils.py
index 433103ab..0bb0c908 100644
--- a/src/pyobo/struct/struct_utils.py
+++ b/src/pyobo/struct/struct_utils.py
@@ -697,7 +697,11 @@ def _get_mapping_context(self, p: Reference, o: Reference) -> MappingContext:
 
     def _definition_fp(self) -> str:
         definition = obo_escape_slim(self.definition) if self.definition else ""
-        return f'"{definition}" [{comma_separate_references(self._get_definition_provenance())}]'
+        dp = self._get_definition_provenance()
+        if dp:
+            return f'"{definition}" [{comma_separate_references(dp)}]'
+        else:
+            return f'"{definition}"'
 
     def _get_definition_provenance(self) -> Sequence[Reference | OBOLiteral]:
         if self.definition is None:
diff --git a/tests/test_struct/test_obo/test_struct_term.py b/tests/test_struct/test_obo/test_struct_term.py
index b2791b80..46ca23cb 100644
--- a/tests/test_struct/test_obo/test_struct_term.py
+++ b/tests/test_struct/test_obo/test_struct_term.py
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ def test_6_definition(self):
                 [Term]
                 id: GO:0050069
                 name: lysine dehydrogenase activity
-                def: "Something" []
+                def: "Something"
             """,
             ofn="""\
                 Declaration(Class(GO:0050069))
diff --git a/tests/test_struct/test_obo/test_typedef.py b/tests/test_struct/test_obo/test_typedef.py
index 78019f8f..1a4bebbb 100644
--- a/tests/test_struct/test_obo/test_typedef.py
+++ b/tests/test_struct/test_obo/test_typedef.py
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ def test_6_description(self) -> None:
             f"""\
             [Typedef]
             id: RO:0000087
-            def: "{obo_escape_slim(has_role.definition)}" []
+            def: "{obo_escape_slim(has_role.definition)}"
             """,
             typedef,
         )