diff --git a/lib/carto/parser.js b/lib/carto/parser.js
index 316442f..42ede43 100644
--- a/lib/carto/parser.js
+++ b/lib/carto/parser.js
@@ -575,7 +575,12 @@ carto.Parser = function Parser(env) {
                              $(this.entities.dimension) ||
                              $(this.entities.keyword) ||
                              $(this.entities.field))) {
-                        if (! $(']')) return;
+                        if (! $(']')) {
+                            throw makeError({
+                                message: 'Missing closing ] of filter.',
+                                index: memo - 1
+                            });
+                        }
                         if (!key.is) key = new tree.Field(key);
                         return new tree.Filter(key, op, val, memo, env.filename);
                     }
diff --git a/test/errorhandling/missing_close.mml b/test/errorhandling/missing_close.mml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4dee5ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/errorhandling/missing_close.mml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+{
+    "srs": "+proj=merc +a=6378137 +b=6378137 +lat_ts=0.0 +lon_0=0.0 +x_0=0.0 +y_0=0.0 +k=1.0 +units=m +nadgrids=@null +wktext +no_defs +over",
+    "Stylesheet": [
+        "missing_close.mss"
+    ],
+    "Layer": [{
+        "name": "world",
+        "srs": "+proj=merc +a=6378137 +b=6378137 +lat_ts=0.0 +lon_0=0.0 +x_0=0.0 +y_0=0.0 +k=1.0 +units=m +nadgrids=@null +wktext +no_defs +over",
+        "Datasource": {
+            "file": "http://tilemill-data.s3.amazonaws.com/test_data/shape_demo.zip",
+            "type": "shape"
+        }
+    }]
+}
diff --git a/test/errorhandling/missing_close.mss b/test/errorhandling/missing_close.mss
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f2efe1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/errorhandling/missing_close.mss
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+#world[natural="water"
+{
+  polygon-fill: blue;
+}
diff --git a/test/errorhandling/missing_close.result b/test/errorhandling/missing_close.result
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2536935
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/errorhandling/missing_close.result
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+Error: missing_close.mss:1:5 Missing closing ] of filter.
+    at makeError (/Users/tmcw/src/carto/lib/carto/parser.js:131:16)
+    at Object.carto.Parser.parser.parsers.filter (/Users/tmcw/src/carto/lib/carto/parser.js:579:35)
+    at $ (/Users/tmcw/src/carto/lib/carto/parser.js:50:24)
+    at Object.carto.Parser.parser.parsers.selector (/Users/tmcw/src/carto/lib/carto/parser.js:523:30)
+    at $ (/Users/tmcw/src/carto/lib/carto/parser.js:50:24)
+    at Object.carto.Parser.parser.parsers.ruleset (/Users/tmcw/src/carto/lib/carto/parser.js:615:28)
+    at $ (/Users/tmcw/src/carto/lib/carto/parser.js:50:24)
+    at Object.carto.Parser.parser.parsers.primary (/Users/tmcw/src/carto/lib/carto/parser.js:297:48)
+    at $ (/Users/tmcw/src/carto/lib/carto/parser.js:50:24)
+    at Object.carto.Parser.parser.parse (/Users/tmcw/src/carto/lib/carto/parser.js:227:41)