diff --git a/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs b/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs
index f9f3862a5f..27ae3d5373 100644
--- a/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs
@@ -2744,6 +2744,13 @@ pub fn parse_string(
 
     let bytes = working_set.get_span_contents(span);
 
+    if bytes.is_empty() {
+        return (
+            Expression::garbage(span),
+            Some(ParseError::Expected("String".into(), span)),
+        );
+    }
+
     // Check for bare word interpolation
     if bytes[0] != b'\'' && bytes[0] != b'"' && bytes[0] != b'`' && bytes.contains(&b'(') {
         return parse_string_interpolation(working_set, span, expand_aliases_denylist);
diff --git a/src/tests/test_parser.rs b/src/tests/test_parser.rs
index eff81e9600..0cc2f9a71c 100644
--- a/src/tests/test_parser.rs
+++ b/src/tests/test_parser.rs
@@ -477,3 +477,8 @@ fn or_and_xor() -> TestResult {
 fn unbalanced_delimiter() -> TestResult {
     fail_test(r#"{a:{b:5}}}"#, "unbalanced { and }")
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn unbalanced_delimiter2() -> TestResult {
+    fail_test(r#"{}#.}"#, "unbalanced { and }")
+}