diff --git a/src/misc2.c b/src/misc2.c
index 71ca6d8..992e5c2 100644
--- a/src/misc2.c
+++ b/src/misc2.c
@@ -3472,11 +3472,12 @@
 	while (*modep != NUL)
 	{
 	    colonp = vim_strchr(modep, ':');
-	    if (colonp == NULL)
+	    commap = vim_strchr(modep, ',');
+
+	    if (colonp == NULL || (commap != NULL && commap < colonp))
 		return (char_u *)N_("E545: Missing colon");
 	    if (colonp == modep)
 		return (char_u *)N_("E546: Illegal mode");
-	    commap = vim_strchr(modep, ',');
 
 	    /*
 	     * Repeat for all mode's before the colon.