diff --git a/src/ca65/scanner.c b/src/ca65/scanner.c
index 20053e7e6..9df28a8af 100644
--- a/src/ca65/scanner.c
+++ b/src/ca65/scanner.c
@@ -1417,13 +1417,17 @@ CharAgain:
         case '\\':
             /* Line continuation? */
             if (LineCont) {
-                NextChar ();
+                NextChar();
+                /* Next char should be a LF, if not, will result in an error later */
                 if (C == '\n') {
-                    /* Handle as white space */
-                    NextChar ();
-                    C = ' ';
+                    /* Ignore the '\n' */
+                    NextChar();
                     goto Again;
                 }
+                else {
+                    /* Make it clear what the problem is: */
+                    Error("EOL expected.");
+                }
             }
             break;