diff --git a/vlib/v/fmt/tests/no_main_expected.vv b/vlib/v/fmt/tests/no_main_expected.vv
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2a082f98cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/v/fmt/tests/no_main_expected.vv
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+println('hello world')
diff --git a/vlib/v/fmt/tests/no_main_input.vv b/vlib/v/fmt/tests/no_main_input.vv
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d77431408d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/v/fmt/tests/no_main_input.vv
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+println( "hello world" )
diff --git a/vlib/v/parser/parser.v b/vlib/v/parser/parser.v
index 38c2861307..1a93c68cca 100644
--- a/vlib/v/parser/parser.v
+++ b/vlib/v/parser/parser.v
@@ -452,6 +452,8 @@ pub fn (mut p Parser) top_stmt() ast.Stmt {
 					file: p.file_name
 					return_type: table.void_type
 				}
+			} else if p.pref.is_fmt {
+				return p.stmt(false)
 			} else {
 				p.error('bad top level statement ' + p.tok.str())
 				return ast.Stmt{}