diff --git a/src/css_gradient.rs b/src/css_gradient.rs
index 90d6edb..fea93ec 100644
--- a/src/css_gradient.rs
+++ b/src/css_gradient.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use crate::{BlendMode, Color};
 
+#[allow(clippy::question_mark)]
 pub(crate) fn parse(s: &str, mode: BlendMode) -> Option<(Vec<Color>, Vec<f32>)> {
     let mut stops = Vec::new();
 
@@ -13,7 +14,9 @@ pub(crate) fn parse(s: &str, mode: BlendMode) -> Option<(Vec<Color>, Vec<f32>)>
         return None;
     }
 
-    stops[0].0.as_ref()?;
+    if stops[0].0.is_none() {
+        return None;
+    }
 
     for i in 0..stops.len() {
         if i == 0 && stops[i].1.is_none() {
@@ -25,10 +28,13 @@ pub(crate) fn parse(s: &str, mode: BlendMode) -> Option<(Vec<Color>, Vec<f32>)>
             if stops[i].1.is_none() {
                 stops[i].1 = Some(1.0);
             }
-            continue;
+            break;
         }
 
         if stops[i].0.is_none() {
+            if stops[i + 1].0.is_none() {
+                return None;
+            }
             let col1 = stops[i - 1].0.as_ref().unwrap();
             let col2 = stops[i + 1].0.as_ref().unwrap();
             let col = match mode {
@@ -66,6 +72,12 @@ pub(crate) fn parse(s: &str, mode: BlendMode) -> Option<(Vec<Color>, Vec<f32>)>
         }
     }
 
+    for (col, pos) in &stops {
+        if col.is_none() || pos.is_none() {
+            return None;
+        }
+    }
+
     let colors = stops
         .iter()
         .map(|(c, _)| c.clone().unwrap())
diff --git a/tests/integration_test.rs b/tests/integration_test.rs
index 8bfe5f3..b76e069 100644
--- a/tests/integration_test.rs
+++ b/tests/integration_test.rs
@@ -224,6 +224,19 @@ fn css_gradient() {
             assert_eq!(g.at(pos).to_rgba8(), rgba8);
         }
     }
+
+    let invalid_css = [
+        "",
+        " ",
+        "0, red, lime",
+        "red, lime, 100%",
+        "deeppink, 0.4, 0.9, pink",
+        "0%, 100%",
+    ];
+    for s in invalid_css {
+        let g = GradientBuilder::new().css(s).build::<LinearGradient>();
+        assert!(g.is_err());
+    }
 }
 
 #[test]