diff --git a/parse.y b/parse.y
index f746a0c272..5fae5dc218 100644
--- a/parse.y
+++ b/parse.y
@@ -2673,11 +2673,7 @@ rel_expr	: arg relop arg   %prec '>'
 		    }
 		;
 
-lex_ctxt	: tSP
-		    {
-			$$ = p->ctxt;
-		    }
-		| none
+lex_ctxt	: none
 		    {
 			$$ = p->ctxt;
 		    }
diff --git a/test/ruby/test_parse.rb b/test/ruby/test_parse.rb
index 1d756441f8..8b7c8f0e5b 100644
--- a/test/ruby/test_parse.rb
+++ b/test/ruby/test_parse.rb
@@ -1366,6 +1366,10 @@ x = __ENCODING__
     assert_valid_syntax('class while true; break Object end::Kernel; end')
   end
 
+  def test_escaped_space
+    assert_syntax_error('x = \ 42', /escaped space/)
+  end
+
 =begin
   def test_past_scope_variable
     assert_warning(/past scope/) {catch {|tag| eval("BEGIN{throw tag}; tap {a = 1}; a")}}