diff --git a/pygmt/base_plotting.py b/pygmt/base_plotting.py
index e41d2f25298..bac311f24f6 100644
--- a/pygmt/base_plotting.py
+++ b/pygmt/base_plotting.py
@@ -1204,7 +1204,7 @@ def basemap(self, **kwargs):
         {t}
         """
         kwargs = self._preprocess(**kwargs)
-        if not ("B" in kwargs or "L" in kwargs or "Td" in kwargs or "Tm" in kwargs):
+        if not args_in_kwargs(args=["B", "L", "Td", "Tm"], kwargs=kwargs):
             raise GMTInvalidInput(
                 "At least one of frame, map_scale, compass, or rose must be specified."
             )