diff --git a/prism/prism.c b/prism/prism.c
index 7c41b1670e..0c24681a5b 100644
--- a/prism/prism.c
+++ b/prism/prism.c
@@ -11414,12 +11414,10 @@ parse_target(pm_parser_t *parser, pm_node_t *target) {
             target->type = PM_GLOBAL_VARIABLE_TARGET_NODE;
             return target;
         case PM_LOCAL_VARIABLE_READ_NODE:
-            if (pm_token_is_numbered_parameter(target->location.start, target->location.end)) {
-                PM_PARSER_ERR_NODE_FORMAT(parser, target, PM_ERR_PARAMETER_NUMBERED_RESERVED, target->location.start);
-            } else {
-                assert(sizeof(pm_local_variable_target_node_t) == sizeof(pm_local_variable_read_node_t));
-                target->type = PM_LOCAL_VARIABLE_TARGET_NODE;
-            }
+            pm_refute_numbered_parameter(parser, target->location.start, target->location.end);
+
+            assert(sizeof(pm_local_variable_target_node_t) == sizeof(pm_local_variable_read_node_t));
+            target->type = PM_LOCAL_VARIABLE_TARGET_NODE;
 
             return target;
         case PM_INSTANCE_VARIABLE_READ_NODE: