diff --git a/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs b/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs
index e1cdcb978..a8c970fea 100644
--- a/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs
@@ -1850,7 +1850,18 @@ pub fn parse_signature(
 
     if bytes.starts_with(b"[") {
         start += 1;
+    } else {
+        error = error.or_else(|| {
+            Some(ParseError::Expected(
+                "[".into(),
+                Span {
+                    start,
+                    end: start + 1,
+                },
+            ))
+        });
     }
+
     if bytes.ends_with(b"]") {
         end -= 1;
     } else {
diff --git a/src/tests.rs b/src/tests.rs
index 1d441cc3e..bdae8b245 100644
--- a/src/tests.rs
+++ b/src/tests.rs
@@ -709,3 +709,8 @@ fn missing_column_error() -> TestResult {
         "cannot find column",
     )
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn missing_parameters() -> TestResult {
+    fail_test(r#"def foo {}"#, "expected [")
+}