There is a javascript performance optimisation where functions supplied as arguments are wrapped in parentheses. This is applied, for example, by the terser minifier. This confuses r.js when a define has no dependencies and it incorrectly updates the call:
test.js - original module
test_min.js - generated by, eg, terser
test_bundle.js - r.js -o name=test paths.test=test_min out=test_bundle.js optimize=none
define(('module_name',[],function(){}));
The arguments have been incorrectly inserted inside the parentheses surrounding the function rather than as arguments to the define call.