diff --git a/parse.y b/parse.y
index d12e8c6e734f85..b331174a1aeae8 100644
--- a/parse.y
+++ b/parse.y
@@ -9749,7 +9749,7 @@ parse_ident(struct parser_params *p, int c, int cmd_state)
     if (result == tCONSTANT && is_local_id(ident)) result = tIDENTIFIER;
     if (!IS_lex_state_for(last_state, EXPR_DOT|EXPR_FNAME) &&
         (result == tIDENTIFIER) && /* not EXPR_FNAME, not attrasgn */
-        lvar_defined(p, ident)) {
+        (lvar_defined(p, ident) || NUMPARAM_ID_P(ident))) {
         SET_LEX_STATE(EXPR_END|EXPR_LABEL);
     }
     return result;
diff --git a/test/ruby/test_syntax.rb b/test/ruby/test_syntax.rb
index 4c0e58cc7be496..b920dacc4a75f3 100644
--- a/test/ruby/test_syntax.rb
+++ b/test/ruby/test_syntax.rb
@@ -1672,6 +1672,7 @@ def test_numbered_parameter
     }
 
     assert_valid_syntax("proc {def foo(_);end;_1}")
+    assert_valid_syntax("p { [_1 **2] }")
   end
 
   def test_value_expr_in_condition