diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 48c5674..ceb4dd0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ Primarily tested with personal archive of sources written for Kick assmebler, DA
 * irp (indefinite repeat)
 
 **FIXED**
+* Merlin macro parameters are not required on the MAC line, scope braces ('{', '}') can be used in the first column in Merlin.
 * First line of a Merlin macro was sometimes ignored, two sequential subtractions were ignored in expressions.
 * Pushing source contexts (macro, rept, include etc.) will always increment the scope depth.
 * Fixed REPT / LUP to not destroy local symbols in the scope it was used in while also destroying local symbols within the repeating block correctly
diff --git a/x65.cpp b/x65.cpp
index 840f28e..44daeaa 100644
--- a/x65.cpp
+++ b/x65.cpp
@@ -5700,7 +5700,7 @@ StatusCode Asm::BuildLine(strref line)
 		line.trim_whitespace();
 		bool force_label = charE==':' || charE=='$';
 		if (!force_label && Merlin() && (line || operation)) // MERLIN fixes and PoP does some naughty stuff like 'and = 0'
-			force_label = !strref::is_ws(char0) || char1==']' || charE=='?';
+			force_label = (!strref::is_ws(char0) && char0!='{' && char0!='}') || char1==']' || charE=='?';
 		else if (!Merlin() && line[0]==':')
 			force_label = true;
 		if (!operation && !force_label) {