diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/parsing/Parsers.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/parsing/Parsers.scala
index 38294638948f..e12d3a7fb8e3 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/parsing/Parsers.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/parsing/Parsers.scala
@@ -2004,7 +2004,12 @@ object Parsers {
           }
 
           val finalizer =
-            if (in.token == FINALLY) { in.nextToken(); subExpr() }
+            if (in.token == FINALLY) {
+              in.nextToken();
+              val expr = subExpr()
+              if expr.span.exists then expr
+              else Literal(Constant(())) // finally without an expression
+            }
             else {
               if (handler.isEmpty) warning(
                 EmptyCatchAndFinallyBlock(body),
diff --git a/tests/neg-custom-args/fatal-warnings/i9168.scala b/tests/neg-custom-args/fatal-warnings/i9168.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..59263239f378
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/neg-custom-args/fatal-warnings/i9168.scala
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+def g: Int = try 42 finally ; // error