diff --git a/crates/aiken-lang/src/parser.rs b/crates/aiken-lang/src/parser.rs
index fac9c13c7..30e8b36f4 100644
--- a/crates/aiken-lang/src/parser.rs
+++ b/crates/aiken-lang/src/parser.rs
@@ -301,8 +301,7 @@ pub fn validator_parser() -> impl Parser<Token, ast::UntypedDefinition, Error =
                 vec![],
                 Span {
                     start: 0,
-                    // just needs to be the word `validator` at this point
-                    end: span.start + 9,
+                    end: span.start + "validator".len(),
                 },
             ));