diff --git a/src/ex_docmd.c b/src/ex_docmd.c
index 25ec9c3..45f9401 100644
--- a/src/ex_docmd.c
+++ b/src/ex_docmd.c
@@ -1844,7 +1844,7 @@
 
 	    // If a ':' before the range is missing, give a clearer error
 	    // message.
-	    if (ar > ea.cmd)
+	    if (ar > ea.cmd && !ea.skip)
 	    {
 		semsg(_(e_colon_required_before_range_str), ea.cmd);
 		goto doend;