diff --git a/d2cli/main.go b/d2cli/main.go
index 0f820ff9c..34ba5a717 100644
--- a/d2cli/main.go
+++ b/d2cli/main.go
@@ -457,11 +457,10 @@ func compile(ctx context.Context, ms *xmain.State, plugins []d2plugin.Plugin, fs
 	}
 
 	if os.Getenv("D2_LSP_MODE") == "1" {
-		// only the parse result is needed if running d2 for lsp
+		// only the parse result is needed if running d2 for lsp,
+		// if this, "fails", the AST is still valid and can be sent
+		// to vscode extention
 		ast, err := d2lib.Parse(ctx, string(input), opts)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, false, err
-		}
 
 		type LspOutputData struct {
 			Ast *d2ast.Map