diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/syntax/parser.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/syntax/parser.go
index 8e47d8e723..7047266a70 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/syntax/parser.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/syntax/parser.go
@@ -1766,10 +1766,10 @@ func (p *parser) header(keyword token) (init SimpleStmt, cond Expr, post SimpleS
 		pos src.Pos
 		lit string // valid if pos.IsKnown()
 	}
-	if p.tok == _Semi {
+	if p.tok != _Lbrace {
 		semi.pos = p.pos()
 		semi.lit = p.lit
-		p.next()
+		p.want(_Semi)
 		if keyword == _For {
 			if p.tok != _Semi {
 				if p.tok == _Lbrace {
diff --git a/test/fixedbugs/issue22581.go b/test/fixedbugs/issue22581.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2b637f2ec6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixedbugs/issue22581.go
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+// errorcheck
+
+// Copyright 2017 The Go Authors. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+package p
+
+func f() {
+	if i := g()); i == j { // ERROR "unexpected \)"
+	}
+
+	if i == g()] { // ERROR "unexpected \]"
+	}
+
+	switch i := g()); i { // ERROR "unexpected \)"
+	}
+
+	switch g()] { // ERROR "unexpected \]"
+	}
+
+	for i := g()); i < y; { // ERROR "unexpected \)"
+	}
+
+	for g()] { // ERROR "unexpected \]"
+	}
+}