diff --git a/bibtexparser/splitter.py b/bibtexparser/splitter.py
index bbc3e97..d1c9827 100644
--- a/bibtexparser/splitter.py
+++ b/bibtexparser/splitter.py
@@ -230,6 +230,13 @@ def _move_to_end_of_entry(self, first_key_start: int) -> tuple[list[Field], int,
         while True:
             equals_mark = self._next_mark(accept_eof=False)
             if equals_mark.group(0) == "}":
+                dangling_key = self.bibstr[key_start : equals_mark.start()].strip()
+                if dangling_key:
+                    raise BlockAbortedException(
+                        abort_reason=f"Expected a `=` after entry key `{dangling_key}`, "
+                        "but found the end of the entry (`}`).",
+                        end_index=equals_mark.end(),
+                    )
                 # End of entry
                 return result, equals_mark.end(), duplicate_keys
 
@@ -266,6 +273,8 @@ def _move_to_end_of_entry(self, first_key_start: int) -> tuple[list[Field], int,
             elif after_field_mark.group(0) == "}":
                 # If next mark is a closing bracket, put it back (will return in next loop iteration)
                 self._unaccepted_mark = after_field_mark
+                # Advance past the value, else the check above aborts a valid entry.
+                key_start = after_field_mark.start()
                 continue
             else:
                 self._unaccepted_mark = after_field_mark
diff --git a/tests/splitter_tests/test_splitter_entry.py b/tests/splitter_tests/test_splitter_entry.py
index 5d57da0..79352d1 100644
--- a/tests/splitter_tests/test_splitter_entry.py
+++ b/tests/splitter_tests/test_splitter_entry.py
@@ -337,3 +337,58 @@ def test_escaped_quotes_in_field_value(bibtex_str: str, expected_title: str):
     assert len(library.failed_blocks) == 0
     assert len(library.entries) == 1
     assert library.entries[0].fields_dict["title"].value == expected_title
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "entry, dangling_key",
+    [
+        pytest.param(
+            "@article{test, title = {Some title}, year}",
+            "year",
+            id="dangling key after regular field",
+        ),
+        pytest.param(
+            "@article{test, title = {Some title},\n    year\n}",
+            "year",
+            id="dangling key on its own line",
+        ),
+        pytest.param("@article{test, title}", "title", id="entry with only a dangling key"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_entry_with_dangling_key(entry: str, dangling_key: str):
+    """A key without a `=` and value must not be silently dropped.
+
+    Such an entry is malformed and must end up in the failed blocks,
+    instead of being reported as a successfully parsed (but incomplete) entry.
+    """
+    subsequent_article = "@Article{subsequentArticle, title = {Some title}}"
+    full_bibtex = f"{entry}\n\n{subsequent_article}"
+    library: Library = Splitter(full_bibtex).split()
+
+    assert len(library.failed_blocks) == 1
+    assert dangling_key in library.failed_blocks[0].error.abort_reason
+    assert library.failed_blocks[0].raw == entry
+
+    assert len(library.entries) == 1
+    assert library.entries[0].key == "subsequentArticle"
+    assert len(library.entries[0].fields) == 1
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "entry",
+    [
+        pytest.param("@article{test, title = {Some title}}", id="regular last field"),
+        pytest.param("@article{test, title = {Some title}, }", id="trailing comma"),
+        pytest.param("@article{test, title = {Some title},\n}", id="trailing comma and newline"),
+        pytest.param('@article{test, title = "Some title", }', id="quoted, trailing comma"),
+        pytest.param("@article{test, title = SomeString, }", id="unenclosed, trailing comma"),
+        pytest.param("@article{test, title = {Some {nested} title}}", id="nested braces"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_entry_without_dangling_key_is_not_aborted(entry: str):
+    """Entries legally ending in `}` (with or without trailing comma) still parse cleanly."""
+    library: Library = Splitter(entry).split()
+    assert len(library.failed_blocks) == 0
+    assert len(library.entries) == 1
+    assert len(library.entries[0].fields) == 1
+    assert library.entries[0].fields[0].key == "title"
diff --git a/tests/splitter_tests/test_splitter_parse_failures.py b/tests/splitter_tests/test_splitter_parse_failures.py
index 79fb9f7..a7d0a98 100644
--- a/tests/splitter_tests/test_splitter_parse_failures.py
+++ b/tests/splitter_tests/test_splitter_parse_failures.py
@@ -27,6 +27,11 @@
             """@article{article1, title="title1 author={author1}""",
             id="field_missing_closing_quote",
         ),
+        pytest.param(
+            """@article{article1, title={title1}, danglingKey}""",
+            id="entry_with_dangling_key",
+        ),
+        pytest.param("""@article{article1, danglingKey}""", id="entry_with_only_dangling_key"),
         pytest.param("""@string{foo = "bar""", id="string_without_closing_brace"),
         pytest.param("""@preamble{e = mc^2""", id="preable_without_closing_brace"),
         pytest.param("""@comment{foo = "bar""", id="preable_without_closing_brace"),