diff --git a/crates/ra_syntax/src/ast/generated.rs b/crates/ra_syntax/src/ast/generated.rs
index f77795d056c..75769a4e9d3 100644
--- a/crates/ra_syntax/src/ast/generated.rs
+++ b/crates/ra_syntax/src/ast/generated.rs
@@ -409,6 +409,40 @@ fn syntax(self) -> SyntaxNodeRef<'a> { self.syntax }
 
 impl<'a> CastExpr<'a> {}
 
+// Char
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct CharNode(SyntaxNode);
+
+impl CharNode {
+    pub fn ast(&self) -> Char {
+        Char::cast(self.0.borrowed()).unwrap()
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a> From<Char<'a>> for CharNode {
+    fn from(ast: Char<'a>) -> CharNode {
+        let syntax = ast.syntax().owned();
+        CharNode(syntax)
+    }
+}
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
+pub struct Char<'a> {
+    syntax: SyntaxNodeRef<'a>,
+}
+
+impl<'a> AstNode<'a> for Char<'a> {
+    fn cast(syntax: SyntaxNodeRef<'a>) -> Option<Self> {
+        match syntax.kind() {
+            CHAR => Some(Char { syntax }),
+            _ => None,
+        }
+    }
+    fn syntax(self) -> SyntaxNodeRef<'a> { self.syntax }
+}
+
+impl<'a> Char<'a> {}
+
 // Comment
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
diff --git a/crates/ra_syntax/src/ast/mod.rs b/crates/ra_syntax/src/ast/mod.rs
index 688ffff47d4..4355531d002 100644
--- a/crates/ra_syntax/src/ast/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/ra_syntax/src/ast/mod.rs
@@ -123,6 +123,12 @@ pub fn text(&self) -> SmolStr {
     }
 }
 
+impl<'a> Char<'a> {
+    pub fn text(&self) -> &SmolStr {
+        &self.syntax().leaf_text().unwrap()
+    }
+}
+
 impl<'a> Comment<'a> {
     pub fn text(&self) -> &SmolStr {
         self.syntax().leaf_text().unwrap()
diff --git a/crates/ra_syntax/src/grammar.ron b/crates/ra_syntax/src/grammar.ron
index 0454fd8e494..2ed165c5253 100644
--- a/crates/ra_syntax/src/grammar.ron
+++ b/crates/ra_syntax/src/grammar.ron
@@ -406,6 +406,7 @@ Grammar(
         "PrefixExpr": (),
         "RangeExpr": (),
         "BinExpr": (),
+        "Char": (),
         "Literal": (),
 
         "Expr": (
diff --git a/crates/ra_syntax/src/lib.rs b/crates/ra_syntax/src/lib.rs
index 79394fd532f..8996eb92103 100644
--- a/crates/ra_syntax/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ra_syntax/src/lib.rs
@@ -39,11 +39,12 @@
 mod parser_api;
 mod parser_impl;
 mod reparsing;
-
+mod string_lexing;
 mod syntax_kinds;
 pub mod text_utils;
 /// Utilities for simple uses of the parser.
 pub mod utils;
+mod validation;
 mod yellow;
 
 pub use crate::{
@@ -98,6 +99,8 @@ pub fn syntax(&self) -> SyntaxNodeRef {
         self.root.borrowed()
     }
     pub fn errors(&self) -> Vec<SyntaxError> {
-        self.root.root_data().clone()
+        let mut errors = self.root.root_data().clone();
+        errors.extend(validation::validate(self));
+        errors
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/ra_syntax/src/string_lexing/mod.rs b/crates/ra_syntax/src/string_lexing/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6b52c62c381
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/ra_syntax/src/string_lexing/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,311 @@
+use self::CharComponentKind::*;
+use rowan::{TextRange, TextUnit};
+
+pub fn parse_char_literal(src: &str) -> CharComponentIterator {
+    CharComponentIterator {
+        parser: Parser::new(src),
+        has_closing_quote: false,
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Eq, PartialEq, Clone)]
+pub struct CharComponent {
+    pub range: TextRange,
+    pub kind: CharComponentKind,
+}
+
+impl CharComponent {
+    fn new(range: TextRange, kind: CharComponentKind) -> CharComponent {
+        CharComponent { range, kind }
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Eq, PartialEq, Clone)]
+pub enum CharComponentKind {
+    CodePoint,
+    AsciiEscape,
+    AsciiCodeEscape,
+    UnicodeEscape,
+}
+
+pub struct CharComponentIterator<'a> {
+    parser: Parser<'a>,
+    pub has_closing_quote: bool,
+}
+
+impl<'a> Iterator for CharComponentIterator<'a> {
+    type Item = CharComponent;
+    fn next(&mut self) -> Option<CharComponent> {
+        if self.parser.pos == 0 {
+            assert!(
+                self.parser.advance() == '\'',
+                "char literal should start with a quote"
+            );
+        }
+
+        if let Some(component) = self.parser.parse_char_component() {
+            return Some(component);
+        }
+
+        // We get here when there are no char components left to parse
+        if self.parser.peek() == Some('\'') {
+            self.parser.advance();
+            self.has_closing_quote = true;
+        }
+
+        assert!(
+            self.parser.peek() == None,
+            "char literal should leave no unparsed input: src = {}, pos = {}, length = {}",
+            self.parser.src,
+            self.parser.pos,
+            self.parser.src.len()
+        );
+
+        None
+    }
+}
+
+pub struct Parser<'a> {
+    src: &'a str,
+    pos: usize,
+}
+
+impl<'a> Parser<'a> {
+    pub fn new(src: &'a str) -> Parser<'a> {
+        Parser { src, pos: 0 }
+    }
+
+    // Utility methods
+
+    pub fn peek(&self) -> Option<char> {
+        if self.pos == self.src.len() {
+            return None;
+        }
+
+        self.src[self.pos..].chars().next()
+    }
+
+    pub fn advance(&mut self) -> char {
+        let next = self
+            .peek()
+            .expect("cannot advance if end of input is reached");
+        self.pos += next.len_utf8();
+        next
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_pos(&self) -> TextUnit {
+        (self.pos as u32).into()
+    }
+
+    // Char parsing methods
+
+    fn parse_unicode_escape(&mut self, start: TextUnit) -> CharComponent {
+        // Note: validation of UnicodeEscape will be done elsewhere:
+        // * Only hex digits or underscores allowed
+        // * Max 6 chars
+        // * Within allowed range (must be at most 10FFFF)
+        match self.peek() {
+            Some('{') => {
+                self.advance();
+
+                // Parse anything until we reach `}`
+                while let Some(next) = self.peek() {
+                    self.advance();
+                    if next == '}' {
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                let end = self.get_pos();
+                CharComponent::new(TextRange::from_to(start, end), UnicodeEscape)
+            }
+            Some(_) | None => {
+                let end = self.get_pos();
+                CharComponent::new(TextRange::from_to(start, end), UnicodeEscape)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn parse_ascii_code_escape(&mut self, start: TextUnit) -> CharComponent {
+        // Note: validation of AsciiCodeEscape will be done elsewhere:
+        // * First digit is octal
+        // * Second digit is hex
+        let code_start = self.get_pos();
+        while let Some(next) = self.peek() {
+            if next == '\'' || (self.get_pos() - code_start == 2.into()) {
+                break;
+            }
+
+            self.advance();
+        }
+
+        let end = self.get_pos();
+        CharComponent::new(TextRange::from_to(start, end), AsciiCodeEscape)
+    }
+
+    fn parse_escape(&mut self, start: TextUnit) -> CharComponent {
+        // Note: validation of AsciiEscape will be done elsewhere:
+        // * The escape sequence is non-empty
+        // * The escape sequence is valid
+        if self.peek().is_none() {
+            return CharComponent::new(TextRange::from_to(start, start), AsciiEscape);
+        }
+
+        let next = self.advance();
+        let end = self.get_pos();
+        let range = TextRange::from_to(start, end);
+        match next {
+            'x' => self.parse_ascii_code_escape(start),
+            'u' => self.parse_unicode_escape(start),
+            _ => CharComponent::new(range, AsciiEscape),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn parse_char_component(&mut self) -> Option<CharComponent> {
+        let next = self.peek()?;
+
+        // Ignore character close
+        if next == '\'' {
+            return None;
+        }
+
+        let start = self.get_pos();
+        self.advance();
+
+        if next == '\\' {
+            Some(self.parse_escape(start))
+        } else {
+            let end = self.get_pos();
+            Some(CharComponent::new(
+                TextRange::from_to(start, end),
+                CodePoint,
+            ))
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn parse(src: &str) -> (bool, Vec<CharComponent>) {
+        let component_iterator = &mut super::parse_char_literal(src);
+        let components: Vec<_> = component_iterator.collect();
+        (component_iterator.has_closing_quote, components)
+    }
+
+    fn unclosed_char_component(src: &str) -> CharComponent {
+        let (has_closing_quote, components) = parse(src);
+        assert!(!has_closing_quote, "char should not have closing quote");
+        assert!(components.len() == 1);
+        components[0].clone()
+    }
+
+    fn closed_char_component(src: &str) -> CharComponent {
+        let (has_closing_quote, components) = parse(src);
+        assert!(has_closing_quote, "char should have closing quote");
+        assert!(
+            components.len() == 1,
+            "Literal: {}\nComponents: {:#?}",
+            src,
+            components
+        );
+        components[0].clone()
+    }
+
+    fn closed_char_components(src: &str) -> Vec<CharComponent> {
+        let (has_closing_quote, components) = parse(src);
+        assert!(has_closing_quote, "char should have closing quote");
+        components
+    }
+
+    fn range_closed(src: &str) -> TextRange {
+        TextRange::from_to(1.into(), (src.len() as u32 - 1).into())
+    }
+
+    fn range_unclosed(src: &str) -> TextRange {
+        TextRange::from_to(1.into(), (src.len() as u32).into())
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_unicode_escapes() {
+        let unicode_escapes = &[r"{DEAD}", "{BEEF}", "{FF}", ""];
+        for escape in unicode_escapes {
+            let escape_sequence = format!(r"'\u{}'", escape);
+            let component = closed_char_component(&escape_sequence);
+            let expected_range = range_closed(&escape_sequence);
+            assert_eq!(component.kind, CharComponentKind::UnicodeEscape);
+            assert_eq!(component.range, expected_range);
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_unicode_escapes_unclosed() {
+        let unicode_escapes = &["{DEAD", "{BEEF", "{FF"];
+        for escape in unicode_escapes {
+            let escape_sequence = format!(r"'\u{}'", escape);
+            let component = unclosed_char_component(&escape_sequence);
+            let expected_range = range_unclosed(&escape_sequence);
+            assert_eq!(component.kind, CharComponentKind::UnicodeEscape);
+            assert_eq!(component.range, expected_range);
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_empty_char() {
+        let (has_closing_quote, components) = parse("''");
+        assert!(has_closing_quote, "char should have closing quote");
+        assert!(components.len() == 0);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_unclosed_char() {
+        let component = unclosed_char_component("'a");
+        assert!(component.kind == CodePoint);
+        assert!(component.range == TextRange::from_to(1.into(), 2.into()));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_digit_escapes() {
+        let literals = &[r"", r"5", r"55"];
+
+        for literal in literals {
+            let lit_text = format!(r"'\x{}'", literal);
+            let component = closed_char_component(&lit_text);
+            assert!(component.kind == CharComponentKind::AsciiCodeEscape);
+            assert!(component.range == range_closed(&lit_text));
+        }
+
+        // More than 2 digits starts a new codepoint
+        let components = closed_char_components(r"'\x555'");
+        assert!(components.len() == 2);
+        assert!(components[1].kind == CharComponentKind::CodePoint);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_ascii_escapes() {
+        let literals = &[
+            r"\'", "\\\"", // equivalent to \"
+            r"\n", r"\r", r"\t", r"\\", r"\0",
+        ];
+
+        for literal in literals {
+            let lit_text = format!("'{}'", literal);
+            let component = closed_char_component(&lit_text);
+            assert!(component.kind == CharComponentKind::AsciiEscape);
+            assert!(component.range == range_closed(&lit_text));
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_no_escapes() {
+        let literals = &['"', 'n', 'r', 't', '0', 'x', 'u'];
+
+        for &literal in literals {
+            let lit_text = format!("'{}'", literal);
+            let component = closed_char_component(&lit_text);
+            assert!(component.kind == CharComponentKind::CodePoint);
+            assert!(component.range == range_closed(&lit_text));
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/ra_syntax/src/validation.rs b/crates/ra_syntax/src/validation.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..03d98eff490
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/ra_syntax/src/validation.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+use crate::{
+    ast::{self, AstNode},
+    File,
+    string_lexing,
+    yellow::{
+        SyntaxError,
+    },
+};
+
+pub(crate) fn validate(file: &File) -> Vec<SyntaxError> {
+    let mut errors = Vec::new();
+    for d in file.root.borrowed().descendants() {
+        if let Some(c) = ast::Char::cast(d) {
+            let components = &mut string_lexing::parse_char_literal(c.text());
+            let len = components.count();
+
+            if !components.has_closing_quote {
+                errors.push(SyntaxError {
+                    msg: "Unclosed char literal".to_string(),
+                    offset: d.range().start(),
+                });
+            }
+
+            if len == 0 {
+                errors.push(SyntaxError {
+                    msg: "Empty char literal".to_string(),
+                    offset: d.range().start(),
+                });
+            }
+
+            if len > 1 {
+                errors.push(SyntaxError {
+                    msg: "Character literal should be only one character long".to_string(),
+                    offset: d.range().start(),
+                });
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    errors
+}