diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 1cc1e16..d34c7f5 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -387,8 +387,9 @@ pub(crate) fn eat_expr<I: Iterator<Item = Token>>(
                 }
             }
             '\\' => {
-                values.push(toks.next().unwrap());
-                values.push(toks.next().unwrap());
+                let next = toks.next().unwrap();
+                values.push(next);
+                values.push(toks.next().ok_or(("expected \"}\".", next.pos))?);
             }
             // todo: this should only apply to special functions
             // it is causing us to emit nothing on malformed input
diff --git a/tests/error.rs b/tests/error.rs
index cbc53c5..8acb405 100644
--- a/tests/error.rs
+++ b/tests/error.rs
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ error!(
     "#{", "Error: expected \"}\"."
 );
 error!(toplevel_hash, "#", "Error: expected \"{\".");
+error!(toplevel_backslash, "\\", "Error: expected \"}\".");
 error!(toplevel_var_no_colon, "$r", "Error: expected \":\".");
 error!(bar_in_value, "a {color: a|b;}", "Error: expected \";\".");
 error!(