diff --git a/py-polars/polars/functions/as_datatype.py b/py-polars/polars/functions/as_datatype.py
index d09a8cead6dc..a3ed5bb86414 100644
--- a/py-polars/polars/functions/as_datatype.py
+++ b/py-polars/polars/functions/as_datatype.py
@@ -596,7 +596,6 @@ def struct(
     Schema({'my_struct': Struct({'p': Int64, 'q': Boolean})})
     """
     pyexprs = parse_into_list_of_expressions(*exprs, **named_exprs)
-    expr = wrap_expr(plr.as_struct(pyexprs))
 
     if schema:
         if not exprs:
@@ -604,7 +603,11 @@ def struct(
             expr = wrap_expr(
                 plr.as_struct(parse_into_list_of_expressions(list(schema.keys())))
             )
+        else:
+            expr = wrap_expr(plr.as_struct(pyexprs))
         expr = expr.cast(Struct(schema), strict=False)
+    else:
+        expr = wrap_expr(plr.as_struct(pyexprs))
 
     if eager:
         return F.select(expr).to_series()