diff --git a/src/syntax.c b/src/syntax.c
index da5dfa1..cda1f95 100644
--- a/src/syntax.c
+++ b/src/syntax.c
@@ -3632,7 +3632,7 @@
     if (curwin->w_s->b_syn_topgrp != 0)
 	return;
 
-    if (ends_excmd(*arg))
+    if (ends_excmd2(eap->cmd, arg))
     {
 	/*
 	 * No argument: Clear all syntax items.
@@ -3652,7 +3652,7 @@
 	/*
 	 * Clear the group IDs that are in the argument.
 	 */
-	while (!ends_excmd(*arg))
+	while (!ends_excmd2(eap->cmd, arg))
 	{
 	    arg_end = skiptowhite(arg);
 	    if (*arg == '@')
@@ -3843,7 +3843,7 @@
     }
     else
 	msg_puts_title(_("\n--- Syntax items ---"));
-    if (ends_excmd(*arg))
+    if (ends_excmd2(eap->cmd, arg))
     {
 	/*
 	 * No argument: List all group IDs and all syntax clusters.
@@ -3858,7 +3858,7 @@
 	/*
 	 * List the group IDs and syntax clusters that are in the argument.
 	 */
-	while (!ends_excmd(*arg) && !got_int)
+	while (!ends_excmd2(eap->cmd, arg) && !got_int)
 	{
 	    arg_end = skiptowhite(arg);
 	    if (*arg == '@')
@@ -4463,11 +4463,12 @@
  */
     static char_u *
 get_syn_options(
-    char_u	    *arg,		// next argument to be checked
+    char_u	    *start,		// next argument to be checked
     syn_opt_arg_T   *opt,		// various things
     int		    *conceal_char UNUSED,
     int		    skip)		// TRUE if skipping over command
 {
+    char_u	*arg = start;
     char_u	*gname_start, *gname;
     int		syn_id;
     int		len;
@@ -4528,7 +4529,7 @@
 	    if (p[i] == NUL && (VIM_ISWHITE(arg[len])
 				    || (flagtab[fidx].argtype > 0
 					 ? arg[len] == '='
-					 : ends_excmd(arg[len]))))
+					 : ends_excmd2(start, arg + len))))
 	    {
 		if (opt->keyword
 			&& (flagtab[fidx].flags == HL_DISPLAY
@@ -4790,11 +4791,12 @@
 	     */
 	    cnt = 0;
 	    p = keyword_copy;
-	    for ( ; rest != NULL && !ends_excmd(*rest); rest = skipwhite(rest))
+	    for ( ; rest != NULL && !ends_excmd2(eap->arg, rest);
+							rest = skipwhite(rest))
 	    {
 		rest = get_syn_options(rest, &syn_opt_arg, &conceal_char,
 								    eap->skip);
-		if (rest == NULL || ends_excmd(*rest))
+		if (rest == NULL || ends_excmd2(eap->arg, rest))
 		    break;
 		// Copy the keyword, removing backslashes, and add a NUL.
 		while (*rest != NUL && !VIM_ISWHITE(*rest))
@@ -4892,6 +4894,7 @@
     syn_opt_arg_T syn_opt_arg;
     int		sync_idx = 0;
     int		conceal_char = NUL;
+    int		orig_called_emsg = called_emsg;
 
     // Isolate the group name, check for validity
     rest = get_group_name(arg, &group_name_end);
@@ -4922,7 +4925,7 @@
 	 * Check for trailing command and illegal trailing arguments.
 	 */
 	eap->nextcmd = check_nextcmd(rest);
-	if (!ends_excmd(*rest) || eap->skip)
+	if (!ends_excmd2(eap->cmd, rest) || eap->skip)
 	    rest = NULL;
 	else if (ga_grow(&curwin->w_s->b_syn_patterns, 1) != FAIL
 		&& (syn_id = syn_check_group(arg,
@@ -4974,7 +4977,7 @@
     vim_free(syn_opt_arg.cont_in_list);
     vim_free(syn_opt_arg.next_list);
 
-    if (rest == NULL)
+    if (rest == NULL && called_emsg == orig_called_emsg)
 	semsg(_(e_invarg2), arg);
 }
 
@@ -5037,11 +5040,11 @@
     /*
      * get the options, patterns and matchgroup.
      */
-    while (rest != NULL && !ends_excmd(*rest))
+    while (rest != NULL && !ends_excmd2(eap->cmd, rest))
     {
 	// Check for option arguments
 	rest = get_syn_options(rest, &syn_opt_arg, &conceal_char, eap->skip);
-	if (rest == NULL || ends_excmd(*rest))
+	if (rest == NULL || ends_excmd2(eap->cmd, rest))
 	    break;
 
 	// must be a pattern or matchgroup then
@@ -5570,7 +5573,7 @@
 
     if (!got_clstr)
 	emsg(_("E400: No cluster specified"));
-    if (rest == NULL || !ends_excmd(*rest))
+    if (rest == NULL || !ends_excmd2(eap->cmd, rest))
 	semsg(_(e_invarg2), arg);
 }
 
@@ -5680,7 +5683,7 @@
 	}
     } while (idx >= 0);
 
-    if (!ends_excmd(*end) && !VIM_ISWHITE(*end))
+    if (!ends_excmd2(arg, end) && !VIM_ISWHITE(*end))
     {
 	semsg(_("E402: Garbage after pattern: %s"), arg);
 	return NULL;
@@ -5703,13 +5706,13 @@
     long	n;
     char_u	*cpo_save;
 
-    if (ends_excmd(*arg_start))
+    if (ends_excmd2(eap->cmd, arg_start))
     {
 	syn_cmd_list(eap, TRUE);
 	return;
     }
 
-    while (!ends_excmd(*arg_start))
+    while (!ends_excmd2(eap->cmd, arg_start))
     {
 	arg_end = skiptowhite(arg_start);
 	next_arg = skipwhite(arg_end);
@@ -5719,7 +5722,7 @@
 	{
 	    if (!eap->skip)
 		curwin->w_s->b_syn_sync_flags |= SF_CCOMMENT;
-	    if (!ends_excmd(*next_arg))
+	    if (!ends_excmd2(eap->cmd, next_arg))
 	    {
 		arg_end = skiptowhite(next_arg);
 		if (!eap->skip)
@@ -5888,7 +5891,7 @@
 	    break;
 	}
 	p = skipwhite(p + 1);
-	if (ends_excmd(*p))
+	if (ends_excmd2(*arg, p))
 	{
 	    semsg(_("E406: Empty argument: %s"), *arg);
 	    break;
@@ -5898,7 +5901,7 @@
 	 * parse the arguments after "contains"
 	 */
 	count = 0;
-	while (!ends_excmd(*p))
+	while (!ends_excmd2(*arg, p))
 	{
 	    for (end = p; *end && !VIM_ISWHITE(*end) && *end != ','; ++end)
 		;