diff --git a/compiler/gen_c.v b/compiler/gen_c.v
index a9595c153d..40d9c4a347 100644
--- a/compiler/gen_c.v
+++ b/compiler/gen_c.v
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ fn (p mut Parser) gen_fn_decl(f Fn, typ, str_args string) {
 
 // blank identifer assignment `_ = 111` 
 fn (p mut Parser) gen_blank_identifier_assign() {
-	p.next()
-	p.check(.assign)
+	p.check_name()
+	p.check_space(.assign)
 	pos := p.cgen.add_placeholder()
 	mut typ := p.bool_expression()
 	tmp := p.get_tmp()
diff --git a/compiler/gen_js.v b/compiler/gen_js.v
index a3bf9235ef..66b1bc0064 100644
--- a/compiler/gen_js.v
+++ b/compiler/gen_js.v
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ fn (p mut Parser) gen_fn_decl(f Fn, typ, _str_args string) {
 }
 
 fn (p mut Parser) gen_blank_identifier_assign() {
+	p.check_name()
+	p.check_space(.assign)
 	typ := p.bool_expression()
 	or_else := p.tok == .key_orelse
 	//tmp := p.get_tmp()