diff --git a/src/testdir/test_vim9_expr.vim b/src/testdir/test_vim9_expr.vim
index 2cbb2854a..9292a77d6 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_vim9_expr.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_vim9_expr.vim
@@ -1819,6 +1819,8 @@ def Test_expr7_dict()
   CheckDefExecFailure(['var x: dict<number> = #{a: "x", b: 134}'], 'E1012:', 1)
   CheckDefExecFailure(['var x: dict<string> = #{a: 234, b: "1"}'], 'E1012:', 1)
   CheckDefExecFailure(['var x: dict<string> = #{a: "x", b: 134}'], 'E1012:', 1)
+
+  CheckDefFailure(['var x = ({'], 'E723:', 2)
 enddef
 
 def Test_expr7_dict_vim9script()
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 80b93196f..244c26d09 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -750,6 +750,8 @@ static char *(features[]) =
 
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
+/**/
+    1802,
 /**/
     1801,
 /**/
diff --git a/src/vim9compile.c b/src/vim9compile.c
index 373d76c6e..a6bdcc3f3 100644
--- a/src/vim9compile.c
+++ b/src/vim9compile.c
@@ -2822,7 +2822,10 @@ compile_dict(char_u **arg, cctx_T *cctx, int literal)
 
 failret:
     if (*arg == NULL)
+    {
 	semsg(_(e_missing_dict_end), _("[end of lines]"));
+	*arg = (char_u *)"";
+    }
     dict_unref(d);
     return FAIL;
 }