diff --git a/R/make_stancode.R b/R/make_stancode.R
index e763dab42..b6e3af676 100644
--- a/R/make_stancode.R
+++ b/R/make_stancode.R
@@ -30,9 +30,7 @@ make_stancode <- function(formula, data = NULL, family = gaussian(),
   sample_prior <- use_alias(sample_prior, dots$sample.prior)
   save_model <- use_alias(save_model, dots$save.model)
   dots[c("cov.ranef", "sample.prior", "save.model")] <- NULL
-  # some input checks 
-  if (!(is.null(data) || is.list(data)))
-    stop("argument 'data' must be a data.frame or list", call. = FALSE)
+  # some input checks
   family <- check_family(family)
   formula <- update_formula(formula, data = data, family = family,
                             partial = partial, nonlinear = nonlinear)
diff --git a/R/make_standata.R b/R/make_standata.R
index e1a3ed8f1..7a39924ca 100644
--- a/R/make_standata.R
+++ b/R/make_standata.R
@@ -40,9 +40,7 @@ make_standata <- function(formula, data = NULL, family = "gaussian",
   is_newdata <- isTRUE(control$is_newdata)
   # use deprecated arguments if specified
   cov_ranef <- use_alias(cov_ranef, dots$cov.ranef, warn = FALSE)
-  # some input checks 
-  if (!(is.null(data) || is.list(data)))
-    stop("argument 'data' must be a data.frame or list", call. = FALSE)
+  # some input checks
   family <- check_family(family)
   formula <- update_formula(formula, data = data, family = family,
                             partial = partial, nonlinear = nonlinear)
diff --git a/R/priors.R b/R/priors.R
index 989febf27..71e7ed24b 100644
--- a/R/priors.R
+++ b/R/priors.R
@@ -383,8 +383,6 @@ get_prior <- function(formula, data = NULL, family = gaussian(),
                       threshold = c("flexible", "equidistant"), 
                       internal = FALSE) {
   # note that default priors are stored in this function
-  if (!(is.null(data) || is.list(data)))
-    stop("argument 'data' must be a data.frame or list", call. = FALSE)
   family <- check_family(family) 
   link <- family$link
   formula <- update_formula(formula, data = data, family = family, 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/tests.make_standata.R b/tests/testthat/tests.make_standata.R
index 8b0b6a3cf..a5f5fcc72 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/tests.make_standata.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/tests.make_standata.R
@@ -341,9 +341,9 @@ test_that("make_standata returns data for bsts models", {
   dat <- data.frame(y = 1:5, g = c(1:3, sample(1:3, 2, TRUE)), t = 1:5)
   expect_equal(make_standata(y~1, data = dat, autocor = cor_bsts(~t|g))$tg,
                sort(dat$g))
-  expect_equal(make_standata(bf(y~1, sigma ~ 1), data = dat, 
-                             autocor = cor_bsts(~t|g))$X_sigma[, 1],
-               rep(1, seq_len(nrow(dat))))
+  expect_equivalent(make_standata(bf(y~1, sigma ~ 1), data = dat, 
+                                  autocor = cor_bsts(~t|g))$X_sigma[, 1],
+                    rep(1, nrow(dat)))
 })
 
 test_that("make_standata returns data for GAMMs", {