diff --git a/parser.go b/parser.go
index 8da6547a..07c9e683 100644
--- a/parser.go
+++ b/parser.go
@@ -56,18 +56,17 @@ type Parser struct {
 //
 // Examples
 //
-//  // Standard parser without descriptors
-//  specParser := NewParser(Minute | Hour | Dom | Month | Dow)
-//  sched, err := specParser.Parse("0 0 15 */3 *")
+//	// Standard parser without descriptors
+//	specParser := NewParser(Minute | Hour | Dom | Month | Dow)
+//	sched, err := specParser.Parse("0 0 15 */3 *")
 //
-//  // Same as above, just excludes time fields
-//  specParser := NewParser(Dom | Month | Dow)
-//  sched, err := specParser.Parse("15 */3 *")
-//
-//  // Same as above, just makes Dow optional
-//  specParser := NewParser(Dom | Month | DowOptional)
-//  sched, err := specParser.Parse("15 */3")
+//	// Same as above, just excludes time fields
+//	specParser := NewParser(Dom | Month | Dow)
+//	sched, err := specParser.Parse("15 */3 *")
 //
+//	// Same as above, just makes Dow optional
+//	specParser := NewParser(Dom | Month | DowOptional)
+//	sched, err := specParser.Parse("15 */3")
 func NewParser(options ParseOption) Parser {
 	optionals := 0
 	if options&DowOptional > 0 {
@@ -96,6 +95,9 @@ func (p Parser) Parse(spec string) (Schedule, error) {
 		var err error
 		i := strings.Index(spec, " ")
 		eq := strings.Index(spec, "=")
+		if i == -1 {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("missing optional fields or descriptor after timezone: %s", spec)
+		}
 		if loc, err = time.LoadLocation(spec[eq+1 : i]); err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("provided bad location %s: %v", spec[eq+1:i], err)
 		}
@@ -247,7 +249,9 @@ func getField(field string, r bounds) (uint64, error) {
 }
 
 // getRange returns the bits indicated by the given expression:
-//   number | number "-" number [ "/" number ]
+//
+//	number | number "-" number [ "/" number ]
+//
 // or error parsing range.
 func getRange(expr string, r bounds) (uint64, error) {
 	var (
diff --git a/parser_test.go b/parser_test.go
index 41c8c520..860949cd 100644
--- a/parser_test.go
+++ b/parser_test.go
@@ -358,6 +358,28 @@ func TestNoDescriptorParser(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestMissingOptionalFieldsAndDescriptorAfterTimezone(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := ParseStandard("TZ=UTC")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Error("expected an error, got none")
+	}
+
+	_, err = ParseStandard("TZ=UTC ")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Error("expected an error, got none")
+	}
+
+	_, err = ParseStandard("TZ=0")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Error("expected an error, got none")
+	}
+
+	_, err = ParseStandard("TZ=0 ")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Error("expected an error, got none")
+	}
+}
+
 func every5min(loc *time.Location) *SpecSchedule {
 	return &SpecSchedule{1 << 0, 1 << 5, all(hours), all(dom), all(months), all(dow), loc}
 }