diff --git a/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs b/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs
index 79ada981ab..9c203d37d0 100644
--- a/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs
@@ -5272,15 +5272,43 @@ pub fn parse_record(working_set: &mut StateWorkingSet, span: Span) -> Expression
 
             idx += 1;
             if idx == tokens.len() {
-                working_set.error(ParseError::Expected("record", span));
-                return garbage(span);
+                working_set.error(ParseError::Expected(
+                    "':'",
+                    Span::new(curr_span.end, curr_span.end),
+                ));
+                output.push(RecordItem::Pair(
+                    garbage(curr_span),
+                    garbage(Span::new(curr_span.end, curr_span.end)),
+                ));
+                break;
             }
-            let colon = working_set.get_span_contents(tokens[idx].span);
+            let colon_span = tokens[idx].span;
+            let colon = working_set.get_span_contents(colon_span);
             idx += 1;
-            if idx == tokens.len() || colon != b":" {
-                //FIXME: need better error
-                working_set.error(ParseError::Expected("record", span));
-                return garbage(span);
+            if colon != b":" {
+                working_set.error(ParseError::Expected(
+                    "':'",
+                    Span::new(colon_span.start, colon_span.start),
+                ));
+                output.push(RecordItem::Pair(
+                    field,
+                    garbage(Span::new(
+                        colon_span.start,
+                        tokens[tokens.len() - 1].span.end,
+                    )),
+                ));
+                break;
+            }
+            if idx == tokens.len() {
+                working_set.error(ParseError::Expected(
+                    "value for record field",
+                    Span::new(colon_span.end, colon_span.end),
+                ));
+                output.push(RecordItem::Pair(
+                    garbage(Span::new(curr_span.start, colon_span.end)),
+                    garbage(Span::new(colon_span.end, tokens[tokens.len() - 1].span.end)),
+                ));
+                break;
             }
             let value = parse_value(working_set, tokens[idx].span, &SyntaxShape::Any);
             idx += 1;
diff --git a/src/tests/test_parser.rs b/src/tests/test_parser.rs
index d3911606dc..e8da07a70f 100644
--- a/src/tests/test_parser.rs
+++ b/src/tests/test_parser.rs
@@ -763,3 +763,14 @@ fn properly_typecheck_rest_param() -> TestResult {
 fn implied_collect_has_compatible_type() -> TestResult {
     run_test(r#"let idx = 3 | $in; $idx < 1"#, "false")
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn record_expected_colon() -> TestResult {
+    fail_test(r#"{ a: 2 b }"#, "expected ':'")?;
+    fail_test(r#"{ a: 2 b 3 }"#, "expected ':'")
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn record_missing_value() -> TestResult {
+    fail_test(r#"{ a: 2 b: }"#, "expected value for record field")
+}