diff --git a/src/evalvars.c b/src/evalvars.c
index 260c297..40e643b 100644
--- a/src/evalvars.c
+++ b/src/evalvars.c
@@ -754,12 +754,14 @@
     void
 ex_var(exarg_T *eap)
 {
+    char_u *p = eap->cmd;
+
     if (!in_vim9script())
     {
 	semsg(_(e_str_cannot_be_used_in_legacy_vim_script), ":var");
 	return;
     }
-    if (current_sctx.sc_sid == 0)
+    if (current_sctx.sc_sid == 0 && checkforcmd_noparen(&p, "var", 3))
     {
 	emsg(_(e_cannot_declare_variable_on_command_line));
 	return;