diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/tests/unfinished_string.out b/vlib/v/checker/tests/unfinished_string.out
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c42f70aea2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/tests/unfinished_string.out
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+vlib/v/checker/tests/unfinished_string.vv:2:1: error: unfinished string literal
+    1 | a := '
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/tests/unfinished_string.vv b/vlib/v/checker/tests/unfinished_string.vv
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e6374fb3ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/tests/unfinished_string.vv
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+a := '
diff --git a/vlib/v/scanner/scanner.v b/vlib/v/scanner/scanner.v
index 90b90a220c..1a49d5ee31 100644
--- a/vlib/v/scanner/scanner.v
+++ b/vlib/v/scanner/scanner.v
@@ -1193,7 +1193,7 @@ fn (mut s Scanner) ident_string() string {
 	for {
 		s.pos++
 		if s.pos >= s.text.len {
-			break
+			s.error('unfinished string literal')
 		}
 		c := s.text[s.pos]
 		prevc := s.text[s.pos - 1]