diff --git a/src/compile_error.rs b/src/compile_error.rs
index 593f4f5912..ce53c12f70 100644
--- a/src/compile_error.rs
+++ b/src/compile_error.rs
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ impl Display for CompileError<'_> {
       UnexpectedEndOfToken { expected } => {
         write!(
           f,
-          "Expected character `{}` but found end-of-file",
+          "Expected character {} but found end-of-file",
           List::or_ticked(expected),
         )
       }
diff --git a/tests/parser.rs b/tests/parser.rs
index 3512991ca0..32a57a9216 100644
--- a/tests/parser.rs
+++ b/tests/parser.rs
@@ -32,3 +32,20 @@ error: Expected character `=` or `~`
     )
     .run();
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn truncated_bang_operator() {
+  Test::new()
+    .justfile("x := if '' !")
+    .status(1)
+    .stderr(
+      r"
+error: Expected character `=` or `~` but found end-of-file
+ ——▶ justfile:1:13
+  │
+1 │ x := if '' !
+  │             ^
+",
+    )
+    .run();
+}