diff --git a/compiler/parser/expr.v b/compiler/parser/expr.v
index a8f62db3..96b1ad82 100644
--- a/compiler/parser/expr.v
+++ b/compiler/parser/expr.v
@@ -348,6 +348,9 @@ fn (mut p Parser) parse_if_expr() ast.Expr {
 		p.expect(.lparen)
 		cond := p.parse_expr()
 		p.expect(.rparen)
+		if p.tok.kind != .lbrace {
+			p.expect(.colon)
+		}
 		branches << ast.IfBranch{cond, p.parse_expr(), pos}
 		if p.tok.kind != .kw_else {
 			break
diff --git a/tests/valid/if_expr.ri b/tests/valid/if_expr.ri
index c9d2655d..78c6f241 100644
--- a/tests/valid/if_expr.ri
+++ b/tests/valid/if_expr.ri
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 fn main() {
-    if (true) {
-        y;
+    let b = if (true) {
+        y
     } else {
-        x;
-    }
+        x
+    };
 
     let add = 0;
     if (1 + 2 == 3) {
@@ -11,4 +11,6 @@ fn main() {
     } else {
         add = 4;
     }
+
+    if (true): x;
 }