diff --git a/src/dict.c b/src/dict.c
index fc8756c..b267e24 100644
--- a/src/dict.c
+++ b/src/dict.c
@@ -1032,7 +1032,8 @@
 
     if (**arg != '}')
     {
-	semsg(_(e_missing_dict_end), *arg);
+	if (evalarg != NULL)
+	    semsg(_(e_missing_dict_end), *arg);
 failret:
 	if (d != NULL)
 	    dict_free(d);