diff --git a/hy/compiler.py b/hy/compiler.py
index 2143fd4..8b3e1c2 100755
--- a/hy/compiler.py
+++ b/hy/compiler.py
@@ -1452,25 +1452,22 @@ class HyASTCompiler(object):
             raise HyTypeError(expr,
                               "with expects a list, received `{0}'".format(
                                   type(args).__name__))
-        if len(args) < 1:
-            raise HyTypeError(expr, "with needs [[arg (expr)]] or [[(expr)]]]")
-
-        args.reverse()
-        ctx = self.compile(args.pop(0))
+        if len(args) not in (1, 2):
+            raise HyTypeError(expr, "with needs [arg (expr)] or [(expr)]")
 
         thing = None
-        if args != []:
+        if len(args) == 2:
             thing = self._storeize(args[0], self.compile(args.pop(0)))
+        ctx = self.compile(args.pop(0))
 
         body = self._compile_branch(expr)
 
+        # Store the result of the body in a tempvar
         var = self.get_anon_var()
         name = ast.Name(id=ast_str(var), arg=ast_str(var),
                         ctx=ast.Store(),
                         lineno=expr.start_line,
                         col_offset=expr.start_column)
-
-        # Store the result of the body in a tempvar
         body += ast.Assign(targets=[name],
                            value=body.force_expr,
                            lineno=expr.start_line,