diff --git a/mode/perl.py b/mode/perl.py
index 5be2f79..e6a5320 100644
--- a/mode/perl.py
+++ b/mode/perl.py
@@ -549,6 +549,10 @@ class PerlContext(context.Context):
                     stack.append(t.string)
                     starting = False
                 elif t.name == 'delimiter' and t.string == '}':
+                    if not stack:
+                        # we are totally hosed. start over. ugh.
+                        self.build_name_map()
+                        return
                     stack.pop(-1)
             if curr:
                 self.namelines[i] = (curr, tuple(stack))