diff --git a/b2/subst.c b/b2/subst.c
index ce64677..1bba496 100644
--- a/b2/subst.c
+++ b/b2/subst.c
@@ -395,6 +395,8 @@ static void recurse_fin(struct subst *sub, const struct parent *parent)
 		case st_break:
 			/* fall through */
 		case st_continue:
+			if (!parent)
+				yyerror("jump without block");
 			sub->u.jump = resolve_jump(sub->u.tmp, parent);
 			break;
 		default:
diff --git a/b2/test/subcont b/b2/test/subcont
index f22141f..a52c718 100755
--- a/b2/test/subcont
+++ b/b2/test/subcont
@@ -126,4 +126,15 @@ expect <<EOF
 s:8: cannot find "z"
 EOF
 
+#------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+tst_fail "substitutions: continue without block" -q <<EOF
+!-s
+continue
+EOF
+
+expect <<EOF
+s:2: jump without block
+EOF
+
 ###############################################################################