diff --git a/src/testdir/test_vim9_cmd.vim b/src/testdir/test_vim9_cmd.vim
index 79f19f0..5484ecb 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_vim9_cmd.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_vim9_cmd.vim
@@ -1740,12 +1740,19 @@
 
   lines =<< trim END
       def _()
-        s:0([], s:0)
         lockv
       enddef
       defcomp
   END
-  v9.CheckScriptFailure(lines, 'E179', 2)
+  v9.CheckScriptFailure(lines, 'E179', 1)
+
+  lines =<< trim END
+      def T()
+        unlet
+      enddef
+      defcomp
+  END
+  v9.CheckScriptFailure(lines, 'E179', 1)
 enddef
 
 def Test_substitute_expr()
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 3f0bf51..7de7158 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -736,6 +736,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    212,
+/**/
     211,
 /**/
     210,
diff --git a/src/vim9cmds.c b/src/vim9cmds.c
index 35a3821..93032d6 100644
--- a/src/vim9cmds.c
+++ b/src/vim9cmds.c
@@ -92,6 +92,12 @@
     int
 check_vim9_unlet(char_u *name)
 {
+    if (*name == NUL)
+    {
+	semsg(_(e_argument_required_for_str), "unlet");
+	return FAIL;
+    }
+
     if (name[1] != ':' || vim_strchr((char_u *)"gwtb", *name) == NULL)
     {
 	// "unlet s:var" is allowed in legacy script.