https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=105473
--- Comment #2 from Jerry DeLisle <jvdelisle2 at gmail dot com> --- I should add, I am not saying this is right or wrong. The error message refers to F2003. $ gfortran -std=f2003 pr105473.f90 [jerry@amdr pr105473]$ ./a.out testinput = ";" n= 999 ios= 0 It is being allowed with the later standard flag. We will have to dig through the standard as well as look at the error checking that is in place to answer the question.