diff --git a/compiler/parse/src/expr.rs b/compiler/parse/src/expr.rs
index e831cab23b..e034a9f20a 100644
--- a/compiler/parse/src/expr.rs
+++ b/compiler/parse/src/expr.rs
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ use crate::ast::{
     AssignedField, Attempting, CommentOrNewline, Def, Expr, Pattern, Spaceable, TypeAnnotation,
 };
 use crate::blankspace::{
-    line_comment, space0, space0_after, space0_after_e, space0_around, space0_around_ee,
-    space0_before, space0_before_e, space0_e, space1, space1_before, spaces_exactly,
+    line_comment, space0, space0_after, space0_after_e, space0_around_ee, space0_before,
+    space0_before_e, space0_e, space1, space1_before, spaces_exactly,
 };
 use crate::ident::{ident, lowercase_ident, Ident};
 use crate::keyword;
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ use crate::number_literal::number_literal;
 use crate::parser::{
     self, allocated, and_then_with_indent_level, ascii_char, ascii_string, attempt, backtrackable,
     fail, map, newline_char, not, not_followed_by, optional, sep_by1, sep_by1_e, specialize,
-    specialize_ref, then, unexpected, unexpected_eof, word1, word2, EExpr, ELambda, Either, If,
-    List, ParseResult, Parser, State, SyntaxError, When,
+    specialize_ref, then, unexpected, unexpected_eof, word1, word2, EExpr, EInParens, ELambda,
+    Either, If, List, ParseResult, Parser, State, SyntaxError, When,
 };
 use crate::pattern::loc_closure_param;
 use crate::type_annotation;
@@ -29,17 +29,38 @@ pub fn expr<'a>(min_indent: u16) -> impl Parser<'a, Expr<'a>, SyntaxError<'a>> {
     move |arena, state: State<'a>| parse_expr(min_indent, arena, state)
 }
 
+fn loc_expr_in_parens<'a>(min_indent: u16) -> impl Parser<'a, Located<Expr<'a>>, SyntaxError<'a>> {
+    specialize(
+        |e, r, c| SyntaxError::Expr(EExpr::InParens(e, r, c)),
+        loc_expr_in_parens_help(min_indent),
+    )
+}
+
+fn loc_expr_in_parens_help<'a>(
+    min_indent: u16,
+) -> impl Parser<'a, Located<Expr<'a>>, EInParens<'a>> {
+    between!(
+        word1(b'(', EInParens::Open),
+        space0_around_ee(
+            specialize_ref(
+                EInParens::Syntax,
+                loc!(move |arena, state| parse_expr(min_indent, arena, state))
+            ),
+            min_indent,
+            EInParens::Space,
+            EInParens::IndentOpen,
+            EInParens::IndentEnd,
+        ),
+        word1(b')', EInParens::End)
+    )
+}
+
 macro_rules! loc_parenthetical_expr {
     ($min_indent:expr, $args_parser:expr) => {
     then(
         loc!(and!(
-            between!(
-                ascii_char(b'(' ),
                 map_with_arena!(
-                    space0_around(
-                        loc!(move |arena, state| parse_expr($min_indent, arena, state)),
-                        $min_indent,
-                    ),
+                    loc_expr_in_parens($min_indent),
                     |arena: &'a Bump, loc_expr: Located<Expr<'a>>| {
                         Located {
                             region: loc_expr.region,
@@ -47,8 +68,7 @@ macro_rules! loc_parenthetical_expr {
                         }
                     }
                 ),
-                ascii_char(b')' )
-            ),
+
             optional(either!(
                 // There may optionally be function args after the ')'
                 // e.g. ((foo bar) baz)