diff --git a/src/ex_docmd.c b/src/ex_docmd.c
index d2cc05f..290dcee 100644
--- a/src/ex_docmd.c
+++ b/src/ex_docmd.c
@@ -1807,12 +1807,19 @@
 	if (ea.cmd == cmd + 1 && *cmd == '$')
 	    // should be "$VAR = val"
 	    --ea.cmd;
-	else if (ea.cmd > cmd)
-	{
-	    emsg(_(e_colon_required_before_a_range));
-	    goto doend;
-	}
 	p = find_ex_command(&ea, NULL, lookup_scriptvar, NULL);
+	if (ea.cmdidx == CMD_SIZE)
+	{
+	    char_u *ar = skip_range(ea.cmd, TRUE, NULL);
+
+	    // If a ':' before the range is missing, give a clearer error
+	    // message.
+	    if (ar > ea.cmd)
+	    {
+		emsg(_(e_colon_required_before_a_range));
+		goto doend;
+	    }
+	}
     }
     else
 #endif
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_vim9_cmd.vim b/src/testdir/test_vim9_cmd.vim
index dc4dc76..2ba779b 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_vim9_cmd.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_vim9_cmd.vim
@@ -460,6 +460,15 @@
   # verbose
 enddef
 
+def Test_range_after_command_modifier()
+  CheckScriptFailure(['vim9script', 'silent keepjump 1d _'], 'E1050:', 2)
+  new
+  setline(1, 'xxx')
+  CheckScriptSuccess(['vim9script', 'silent keepjump :1d _'])
+  assert_equal('', getline(1))
+  bwipe!
+enddef
+
 def Test_eval_command()
   var from = 3
   var to = 5
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 7591c83..b112567 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -751,6 +751,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    1943,
+/**/
     1942,
 /**/
     1941,