diff --git a/docstring_parser/google.py b/docstring_parser/google.py
index 4864393..4573dd7 100644
--- a/docstring_parser/google.py
+++ b/docstring_parser/google.py
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@ def _build_meta(self, text: str, title: str) -> DocstringMeta:
         ) or section.type == SectionType.SINGULAR:
             return self._build_single_meta(section, text)
 
+        if ":" not in text:
+            raise ParseError("Expected a colon in {}.".format(repr(text)))
+
         # Split spec and description
         before, desc = text.split(":", 1)
         if desc:
diff --git a/docstring_parser/tests/test_google.py b/docstring_parser/tests/test_google.py
index 5f71b9f..9c061fb 100644
--- a/docstring_parser/tests/test_google.py
+++ b/docstring_parser/tests/test_google.py
@@ -616,3 +616,14 @@ def test_unknown_meta() -> None:
     assert docstring.params[0].description == "desc0"
     assert docstring.params[1].arg_name == "arg1"
     assert docstring.params[1].description == "desc1"
+
+
+def test_broken_arguments() -> None:
+    with pytest.raises(ParseError):
+        docstring = parse(
+            """This is a test
+
+            Args:
+                param - poorly formatted
+            """
+        )