diff --git a/crates/nu-parser/src/parse_keywords.rs b/crates/nu-parser/src/parse_keywords.rs
index e7bcb38a3b..9120ac6cc8 100644
--- a/crates/nu-parser/src/parse_keywords.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-parser/src/parse_keywords.rs
@@ -287,7 +287,10 @@ pub fn parse_module(
                         }
                         _ => (
                             garbage_statement(&pipeline.commands[0].parts),
-                            Some(ParseError::Expected("def".into(), block_span)),
+                            Some(ParseError::Expected(
+                                "def".into(),
+                                pipeline.commands[0].parts[0],
+                            )),
                         ),
                     };