diff --git a/src/vim9compile.c b/src/vim9compile.c
index 373d76c..a6bdcc3 100644
--- a/src/vim9compile.c
+++ b/src/vim9compile.c
@@ -2822,7 +2822,10 @@
 
 failret:
     if (*arg == NULL)
+    {
 	semsg(_(e_missing_dict_end), _("[end of lines]"));
+	*arg = (char_u *)"";
+    }
     dict_unref(d);
     return FAIL;
 }