diff --git a/R/parameters.R b/R/parameters.R
index 6cca62e7..03e03a65 100644
--- a/R/parameters.R
+++ b/R/parameters.R
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ parameters.list <- function(x, ...) {
 }
 
 param_or_na <- function(x) {
-  inherits(x, "param") | all(is.na(x))
+  inherits(x, "param") || all(is.na(x))
 }
 
 check_list_of_param <- function(x, ..., call = caller_env()) {
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-parameters.R b/tests/testthat/test-parameters.R
index 1a0ccd46..aef44ab1 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-parameters.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-parameters.R
@@ -31,6 +31,15 @@ test_that("parameters_constr() input checks", {
   })
 })
 
+test_that("parameters_constr() allows NA instead of param object", {
+  ab <- c("a", "b")
+  expect_no_condition(
+    p <- parameters_constr(ab, ab, ab, ab, ab, object = list(penalty(), NA))
+  )
+  expect_s3_class_parameters(p)
+  expect_true(is.na(p$object[[2]]))
+})
+
 test_that("create from param objects", {
   expect_no_condition(p_1 <- parameters(mtry(), penalty()))
   expect_s3_class_parameters(p_1)