diff --git a/src/vim9compile.c b/src/vim9compile.c
index 30a92ff..39190c9 100644
--- a/src/vim9compile.c
+++ b/src/vim9compile.c
@@ -7048,13 +7048,17 @@
 
 	/*
 	 * COMMAND after range
+	 * 'text'->func() should not be confused with 'a mark
 	 */
 	cmd = ea.cmd;
-	ea.cmd = skip_range(ea.cmd, NULL);
-	if (ea.cmd > cmd && !starts_with_colon)
+	if (*cmd != '\'')
 	{
-	    emsg(_(e_colon_required));
-	    goto erret;
+	    ea.cmd = skip_range(ea.cmd, NULL);
+	    if (ea.cmd > cmd && !starts_with_colon)
+	    {
+		emsg(_(e_colon_required));
+		goto erret;
+	    }
 	}
 	p = find_ex_command(&ea, NULL, starts_with_colon ? NULL
 		   : (void *(*)(char_u *, size_t, cctx_T *))lookup_local,