diff --git a/R/get_source_expressions.R b/R/get_source_expressions.R
index d765fcadc3..2d934ea2dc 100644
--- a/R/get_source_expressions.R
+++ b/R/get_source_expressions.R
@@ -109,11 +109,6 @@ get_source_expressions <- function(filename, lines = NULL) {
         expressions[[i]]$xml_parsed_content <- expression_xmls[[i]]
         expressions[[i]]$xml_find_function_calls <- build_xml_find_function_calls(expression_xmls[[i]])
       }
-    } else {
-      # in R <= 4.0.5, this condition can occour
-      for (i in seq_along(expressions)) {
-        expressions[[i]]$xml_find_function_calls <- build_xml_find_function_calls(expressions[[i]]$xml_parsed_content)
-      }
     }
 
     # add global expression
@@ -487,6 +482,8 @@ get_single_source_expression <- function(loc,
     lines = expr_lines,
     parsed_content = pc,
     xml_parsed_content = xml2::xml_missing(),
+    # Placeholder for xml_find_function_calls, if needed (e.g. on R <= 4.0.5 with input source "\\")
+    xml_find_function_calls = build_xml_find_function_calls(xml2::xml_missing()),
     content = content
   )
 }