diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/def.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/def.rs
index efb5bdfae2808..a281e3004c12f 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/def.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/def.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ impl Command for Def {
             .input_output_types(vec![(Type::Nothing, Type::Nothing)])
             .required("def_name", SyntaxShape::String, "Command name.")
             .required("params", SyntaxShape::Signature, "Parameters.")
-            .required("block", SyntaxShape::Closure(None), "Body of the definition.")
+            .required("block", SyntaxShape::Block(false), "Body of the definition.")
             .switch("env", "keep the environment defined inside the command", None)
             .switch("wrapped", "treat unknown flags and arguments as strings (requires ...rest-like parameter in signature)", None)
             .category(Category::Core)
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/export_def.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/export_def.rs
index 51c4c871a28c9..44d524560a8df 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/export_def.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/export_def.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ impl Command for ExportDef {
             .input_output_types(vec![(Type::Nothing, Type::Nothing)])
             .required("def_name", SyntaxShape::String, "Command name.")
             .required("params", SyntaxShape::Signature, "Parameters.")
-            .required("block", SyntaxShape::Block, "Body of the definition.")
+            .required("block", SyntaxShape::Block(false), "Body of the definition.")
             .switch("env", "keep the environment defined inside the command", None)
             .switch("wrapped", "treat unknown flags and arguments as strings (requires ...rest-like parameter in signature)", None)
             .category(Category::Core)
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/export_module.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/export_module.rs
index c749c1a43f97e..82588b676156f 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/export_module.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/export_module.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ impl Command for ExportModule {
             .required("module", SyntaxShape::String, "Module name or module path.")
             .optional(
                 "block",
-                SyntaxShape::Block,
+                SyntaxShape::Block(true),
                 "Body of the module if 'module' parameter is not a path.",
             )
             .category(Category::Core)
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/for_.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/for_.rs
index 912d7385244d8..5990bd49bf4c9 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/for_.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/for_.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ impl Command for For {
                 SyntaxShape::Keyword(b"in".to_vec(), Box::new(SyntaxShape::Any)),
                 "Range of the loop.",
             )
-            .required("block", SyntaxShape::Block, "The block to run.")
+            .required("block", SyntaxShape::Block(true), "The block to run.")
             .creates_scope()
             .category(Category::Core)
     }
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/if_.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/if_.rs
index e40bb13b822e2..59a2516753b0f 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/if_.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/if_.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ impl Command for If {
             .required("cond", SyntaxShape::MathExpression, "Condition to check.")
             .required(
                 "then_block",
-                SyntaxShape::Block,
+                SyntaxShape::Block(true),
                 "Block to run if check succeeds.",
             )
             .optional(
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ impl Command for If {
                 SyntaxShape::Keyword(
                     b"else".to_vec(),
                     Box::new(SyntaxShape::OneOf(vec![
-                        SyntaxShape::Block,
+                        SyntaxShape::Block(true),
                         SyntaxShape::Expression,
                     ])),
                 ),
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/loop_.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/loop_.rs
index b799d321412d4..95438e2912adb 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/loop_.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/loop_.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ impl Command for Loop {
         Signature::build("loop")
             .input_output_types(vec![(Type::Nothing, Type::Nothing)])
             .allow_variants_without_examples(true)
-            .required("block", SyntaxShape::Block, "Block to loop.")
+            .required("block", SyntaxShape::Block(true), "Block to loop.")
             .category(Category::Core)
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/module.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/module.rs
index 4ed2d5c59983b..ed00362016a06 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/module.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/module.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ impl Command for Module {
             .required("module", SyntaxShape::String, "Module name or module path.")
             .optional(
                 "block",
-                SyntaxShape::Block,
+                SyntaxShape::Block(true),
                 "Body of the module if 'module' parameter is not a module path.",
             )
             .category(Category::Core)
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/try_.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/try_.rs
index c7242550a7cf7..2d250dd4517d9 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/try_.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/try_.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ impl Command for Try {
     fn signature(&self) -> nu_protocol::Signature {
         Signature::build("try")
             .input_output_types(vec![(Type::Any, Type::Any)])
-            .required("try_block", SyntaxShape::Block, "Block to run.")
+            .required("try_block", SyntaxShape::Block(true), "Block to run.")
             .optional(
                 "catch_closure",
                 SyntaxShape::Keyword(
diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/while_.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/while_.rs
index e9578ae6f594f..48622caf7eb9e 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/while_.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-lang/src/core_commands/while_.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ impl Command for While {
             .required("cond", SyntaxShape::MathExpression, "Condition to check.")
             .required(
                 "block",
-                SyntaxShape::Block,
+                SyntaxShape::Block(true),
                 "Block to loop if check succeeds.",
             )
             .category(Category::Core)
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/debug/timeit.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/debug/timeit.rs
index 7bb492769c6ca..5bf06b21078db 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/debug/timeit.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/debug/timeit.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ impl Command for TimeIt {
         Signature::build("timeit")
             .required(
                 "command",
-                SyntaxShape::OneOf(vec![SyntaxShape::Block, SyntaxShape::Expression]),
+                SyntaxShape::OneOf(vec![SyntaxShape::Block(true), SyntaxShape::Expression]),
                 "The command or block to run.",
             )
             .input_output_types(vec![
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/env/export_env.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/env/export_env.rs
index 7c0072b5d412b..0d3bc67ab4b30 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/env/export_env.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/env/export_env.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ impl Command for ExportEnv {
             .input_output_types(vec![(Type::Nothing, Type::Nothing)])
             .required(
                 "block",
-                SyntaxShape::Block,
+                SyntaxShape::Block(true),
                 "The block to run to set the environment.",
             )
             .category(Category::Env)
diff --git a/crates/nu-parser/src/parse_keywords.rs b/crates/nu-parser/src/parse_keywords.rs
index 3292405cabbbf..31df7480e8074 100644
--- a/crates/nu-parser/src/parse_keywords.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-parser/src/parse_keywords.rs
@@ -462,10 +462,9 @@ pub fn parse_def(
                         let block = working_set.get_block_mut(*block_id);
                         block.signature = Box::new(sig.clone());
                     }
-                    _ => working_set.error(ParseError::Expected(
-                        "definition body closure { ... }",
-                        arg.span,
-                    )),
+                    _ => {
+                        working_set.error(ParseError::Expected("definition body { ... }", arg.span))
+                    }
                 }
             }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs b/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs
index e4d3765e17b30..c66f3dd1e714d 100644
--- a/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs
@@ -1885,8 +1885,8 @@ pub fn parse_brace_expr(
         // If we're empty, that means an empty record or closure
         if matches!(shape, SyntaxShape::Closure(_)) {
             parse_closure_expression(working_set, shape, span)
-        } else if matches!(shape, SyntaxShape::Block) {
-            parse_block_expression(working_set, span)
+        } else if let SyntaxShape::Block(capture_mutable) = shape {
+            parse_block_expression(working_set, capture_mutable, span)
         } else if matches!(shape, SyntaxShape::MatchBlock) {
             parse_match_block_expression(working_set, span)
         } else {
@@ -1900,8 +1900,8 @@ pub fn parse_brace_expr(
         parse_full_cell_path(working_set, None, span)
     } else if matches!(shape, SyntaxShape::Closure(_)) {
         parse_closure_expression(working_set, shape, span)
-    } else if matches!(shape, SyntaxShape::Block) {
-        parse_block_expression(working_set, span)
+    } else if let SyntaxShape::Block(capture_mutable) = shape {
+        parse_block_expression(working_set, capture_mutable, span)
     } else if matches!(shape, SyntaxShape::MatchBlock) {
         parse_match_block_expression(working_set, span)
     } else if second_token.is_some_and(|c| {
@@ -4289,7 +4289,11 @@ fn table_type(head: &[Expression], rows: &[Vec<Expression>]) -> (Type, Vec<Parse
     (Type::Table(ty.into()), errors)
 }
 
-pub fn parse_block_expression(working_set: &mut StateWorkingSet, span: Span) -> Expression {
+pub fn parse_block_expression(
+    working_set: &mut StateWorkingSet,
+    capture_mutable: &bool,
+    span: Span,
+) -> Expression {
     trace!("parsing: block expression");
 
     let bytes = working_set.get_span_contents(span);
@@ -4344,7 +4348,15 @@ pub fn parse_block_expression(working_set: &mut StateWorkingSet, span: Span) ->
 
     let block_id = working_set.add_block(Arc::new(output));
 
-    Expression::new(working_set, Expr::Block(block_id), span, Type::Block)
+    Expression::new(
+        working_set,
+        match capture_mutable {
+            true => Expr::Block(block_id),
+            false => Expr::Closure(block_id),
+        },
+        span,
+        Type::Block,
+    )
 }
 
 pub fn parse_match_block_expression(working_set: &mut StateWorkingSet, span: Span) -> Expression {
@@ -4529,7 +4541,7 @@ pub fn parse_match_block_expression(working_set: &mut StateWorkingSet, span: Spa
             working_set,
             &[output[position].span],
             &mut 0,
-            &SyntaxShape::OneOf(vec![SyntaxShape::Block, SyntaxShape::Expression]),
+            &SyntaxShape::OneOf(vec![SyntaxShape::Block(true), SyntaxShape::Expression]),
         );
         position += 1;
         working_set.exit_scope();
@@ -4805,7 +4817,7 @@ pub fn parse_value(
 
         // Be sure to return ParseError::Expected(..) if invoked for one of these shapes, but lex
         // stream doesn't start with '{'} -- parsing in SyntaxShape::Any arm depends on this error variant.
-        SyntaxShape::Block | SyntaxShape::Closure(..) | SyntaxShape::Record(_) => {
+        SyntaxShape::Block(_) | SyntaxShape::Closure(..) | SyntaxShape::Record(_) => {
             working_set.error(ParseError::Expected("block, closure or record", span));
 
             Expression::garbage(working_set, span)
diff --git a/crates/nu-parser/tests/test_parser.rs b/crates/nu-parser/tests/test_parser.rs
index 11cca19d1fdfe..f05e40f713610 100644
--- a/crates/nu-parser/tests/test_parser.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-parser/tests/test_parser.rs
@@ -1991,7 +1991,7 @@ mod input_types {
                 .input_output_types(vec![(Type::Nothing, Type::Nothing)])
                 .required("def_name", SyntaxShape::String, "definition name")
                 .required("params", SyntaxShape::Signature, "parameters")
-                .required("body", SyntaxShape::Closure(None), "body of the definition")
+                .required("body", SyntaxShape::Block(false), "body of the definition")
                 .category(Category::Core)
         }
 
@@ -2228,7 +2228,7 @@ mod input_types {
                 .required("cond", SyntaxShape::MathExpression, "condition to check")
                 .required(
                     "then_block",
-                    SyntaxShape::Block,
+                    SyntaxShape::Block(true),
                     "block to run if check succeeds",
                 )
                 .optional(
@@ -2236,7 +2236,7 @@ mod input_types {
                     SyntaxShape::Keyword(
                         b"else".to_vec(),
                         Box::new(SyntaxShape::OneOf(vec![
-                            SyntaxShape::Block,
+                            SyntaxShape::Block(true),
                             SyntaxShape::Expression,
                         ])),
                     ),
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/syntax_shape.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/syntax_shape.rs
index 66bd77ddcafb1..a4732dfd93779 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/syntax_shape.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/syntax_shape.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ pub enum SyntaxShape {
     Binary,
 
     /// A block is allowed, eg `{start this thing}`
-    Block,
+    /// `bool`: capture mutable variables
+    Block(bool),
 
     /// A boolean value, eg `true` or `false`
     Boolean,
@@ -143,7 +144,7 @@ impl SyntaxShape {
 
         match self {
             SyntaxShape::Any => Type::Any,
-            SyntaxShape::Block => Type::Block,
+            SyntaxShape::Block(_) => Type::Block,
             SyntaxShape::Closure(_) => Type::Closure,
             SyntaxShape::Binary => Type::Binary,
             SyntaxShape::CellPath => Type::Any,
@@ -209,7 +210,7 @@ impl Display for SyntaxShape {
             SyntaxShape::Directory => write!(f, "directory"),
             SyntaxShape::GlobPattern => write!(f, "glob"),
             SyntaxShape::ImportPattern => write!(f, "import"),
-            SyntaxShape::Block => write!(f, "block"),
+            SyntaxShape::Block(_) => write!(f, "block"),
             SyntaxShape::Closure(args) => {
                 if let Some(args) = args {
                     let arg_vec: Vec<_> = args.iter().map(|x| x.to_string()).collect();
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/ty.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/ty.rs
index 55da6422b955d..719d9a416767e 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/ty.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/ty.rs
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ impl Type {
             Type::Range => SyntaxShape::Range,
             Type::Bool => SyntaxShape::Boolean,
             Type::String => SyntaxShape::String,
-            Type::Block => SyntaxShape::Block, // FIXME needs more accuracy
+            Type::Block => SyntaxShape::Block(true), // FIXME needs more accuracy
             Type::Closure => SyntaxShape::Closure(None), // FIXME needs more accuracy
             Type::CellPath => SyntaxShape::CellPath,
             Type::Duration => SyntaxShape::Duration,
diff --git a/tests/repl/test_parser.rs b/tests/repl/test_parser.rs
index f77d431110bf5..41872a0133d5f 100644
--- a/tests/repl/test_parser.rs
+++ b/tests/repl/test_parser.rs
@@ -931,8 +931,10 @@ fn record_missing_value() -> TestResult {
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn def_requires_body_closure() -> TestResult {
-    fail_test("def a [] (echo 4)", "expected definition body closure")
+fn def_requires_body_block() -> TestResult {
+    fail_test("def a [] (echo 4)", "expected definition body")?;
+    fail_test("def a [] {|| }", "expected definition body")?;
+    fail_test("def a [] {|b: int| echo $b }", "expected definition body")
 }
 
 #[test]