diff --git a/bin/ontobio-parse-assocs.py b/bin/ontobio-parse-assocs.py
index 919a93b4..d3f41be9 100755
--- a/bin/ontobio-parse-assocs.py
+++ b/bin/ontobio-parse-assocs.py
@@ -132,6 +132,10 @@ def main():
     if args.gaferencer_file:
         gaferences = gaference.build_annotation_inferences(json.load(args.gaferencer_file))
 
+    rule_set = args.rule_set
+    if rule_set == ["all"]:
+        rule_set = assocparser.RuleSet.ALL
+
     # set configuration
     filtered_evidence_file = open(args.filtered_file, "w") if args.filtered_file else None
     config = assocparser.AssocParserConfig(
@@ -144,7 +148,7 @@ def main():
         annotation_inferences=gaferences,
         paint=args.allow_paint,
         gpi_authority_path=args.gpi,
-        rule_set=args.rule_set
+        rule_set=rule_set
     )
     p = None
     fmt = None
diff --git a/ontobio/io/assocparser.py b/ontobio/io/assocparser.py
index 6a2ec0ed..788a1af7 100644
--- a/ontobio/io/assocparser.py
+++ b/ontobio/io/assocparser.py
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ def __init__(self,
         # print("Rule Set is {}".format(rule_set))
         if rule_set == None:
             self.rule_set = RuleSet([])
-        elif rule_set == [RuleSet.ALL]:
+        elif rule_set == RuleSet.ALL:
             # None here means all rules
             self.rule_set = RuleSet(None)
         else: