diff --git a/flowquery-py/src/graph/pattern_expression.py b/flowquery-py/src/graph/pattern_expression.py
index 3ebefd2..00fed7d 100644
--- a/flowquery-py/src/graph/pattern_expression.py
+++ b/flowquery-py/src/graph/pattern_expression.py
@@ -20,11 +20,14 @@ def __init__(self):
         self._evaluation: bool = False
 
     def add_element(self, element) -> None:
-        """Add an element to the pattern, ensuring it starts with a NodeReference."""
-        if len(self._chain) == 0 and not isinstance(element, NodeReference):
-            raise ValueError("PatternExpression must start with a NodeReference")
         super().add_element(element)
 
+    def verify(self) -> None:
+        if(len(self._chain) == 0):
+            raise ValueError("PatternExpression cannot be empty")
+        if not(any(isinstance(el, NodeReference) for el in self._chain if isinstance(el, ASTNode))):
+            raise ValueError("PatternExpression must contain at least one NodeReference")
+
     @property
     def identifier(self):
         return None
diff --git a/flowquery-py/src/parsing/parser.py b/flowquery-py/src/parsing/parser.py
index ced4e77..3d16cd2 100644
--- a/flowquery-py/src/parsing/parser.py
+++ b/flowquery-py/src/parsing/parser.py
@@ -426,8 +426,6 @@ def _parse_pattern_expression(self) -> Optional[PatternExpression]:
         node = self._parse_node()
         if node is None:
             raise ValueError("Expected node definition")
-        if not isinstance(node, NodeReference):
-            raise ValueError("PatternExpression must start with a NodeReference")
         pattern.add_element(node)
         while True:
             relationship = self._parse_relationship()
@@ -440,6 +438,7 @@ def _parse_pattern_expression(self) -> Optional[PatternExpression]:
             if node is None:
                 raise ValueError("Expected target node definition")
             pattern.add_element(node)
+        pattern.verify()
         return pattern
 
     def _parse_node(self) -> Optional[Node]:
@@ -606,7 +605,7 @@ def _parse_expression(self) -> Optional[Expression]:
                 if func is not None:
                     lookup = self._parse_lookup(func)
                     expression.add_node(lookup)
-            elif self.token.is_left_parenthesis() and self.peek() is not None and self.peek().is_identifier():
+            elif self.token.is_left_parenthesis() and self.peek() is not None and (self.peek().is_identifier() or self.peek().is_colon() or self.peek().is_right_parenthesis()):
                 # Possible graph pattern expression
                 pattern = self._parse_pattern_expression()
                 if pattern is not None:
diff --git a/flowquery-py/tests/parsing/test_parser.py b/flowquery-py/tests/parsing/test_parser.py
index fc0d0dc..b1153a4 100644
--- a/flowquery-py/tests/parsing/test_parser.py
+++ b/flowquery-py/tests/parsing/test_parser.py
@@ -672,3 +672,9 @@ def test_parse_statement_with_graph_pattern_in_where_clause(self):
             "--- Reference (a)"
         )
         assert ast.print() == expected
+
+    def test_check_pattern_expression_without_noderef(self):
+        """Test check pattern expression without NodeReference."""
+        parser = Parser()
+        with pytest.raises(Exception, match="PatternExpression must contain at least one NodeReference"):
+            parser.parse("MATCH (a:Person) WHERE (:Person)-[:KNOWS]->(:Person) RETURN a")
diff --git a/src/graph/pattern_expression.ts b/src/graph/pattern_expression.ts
index 65f414e..4a90506 100644
--- a/src/graph/pattern_expression.ts
+++ b/src/graph/pattern_expression.ts
@@ -10,11 +10,22 @@ class PatternExpression extends Pattern {
         throw new Error("Cannot set identifier on PatternExpression");
     }
     public addElement(element: Relationship | Node): void {
-        if (this._chain.length == 0 && !(element instanceof NodeReference)) {
-            throw new Error("PatternExpression must start with a NodeReference");
-        }
         super.addElement(element);
     }
+    public verify(): void {
+        if (this._chain.length === 0) {
+            throw new Error("PatternExpression must contain at least one element");
+        }
+        const referenced = this._chain.some((element) => {
+            if (element instanceof NodeReference) {
+                return true;
+            }
+            return false;
+        });
+        if (!referenced) {
+            throw new Error("PatternExpression must contain at least one NodeReference");
+        }
+    }
     public async evaluate(): Promise<void> {
         this._evaluation = false;
         this.endNode.todoNext = async () => {
diff --git a/src/parsing/parser.ts b/src/parsing/parser.ts
index b8fdf3e..b0d3695 100644
--- a/src/parsing/parser.ts
+++ b/src/parsing/parser.ts
@@ -516,9 +516,6 @@ class Parser extends BaseParser {
         if (node === null) {
             throw new Error("Expected node definition");
         }
-        if (!(node instanceof NodeReference)) {
-            throw new Error("PatternExpression must start with a NodeReference");
-        }
         pattern.addElement(node);
         let relationship: Relationship | null = null;
         while (true) {
@@ -536,6 +533,7 @@ class Parser extends BaseParser {
             }
             pattern.addElement(node);
         }
+        pattern.verify();
         return pattern;
     }
 
@@ -709,7 +707,12 @@ class Parser extends BaseParser {
                     const lookup = this.parseLookup(func);
                     expression.addNode(lookup);
                 }
-            } else if (this.token.isLeftParenthesis() && this.peek()?.isIdentifier()) {
+            } else if (
+                this.token.isLeftParenthesis() &&
+                (this.peek()?.isIdentifier() ||
+                    this.peek()?.isColon() ||
+                    this.peek()?.isRightParenthesis())
+            ) {
                 // Possible graph pattern expression
                 const pattern = this.parsePatternExpression();
                 if (pattern !== null) {
diff --git a/tests/parsing/parser.test.ts b/tests/parsing/parser.test.ts
index 6f5c1a0..7af20fe 100644
--- a/tests/parsing/parser.test.ts
+++ b/tests/parsing/parser.test.ts
@@ -752,3 +752,11 @@ test("Parse statement with graph pattern in where clause", () => {
     expect(relationship.type).toBe("KNOWS");
     expect(target.label).toBe("Person");
 });
+
+test("Test check pattern expression without NodeReference", () => {
+    const parser = new Parser();
+    // Should throw an error because pattern does not start with NodeReference
+    expect(() => {
+        parser.parse("MATCH (a:Person) WHERE (:Person)-[:KNOWS]->(:Person) RETURN a");
+    }).toThrow("PatternExpression must contain at least one NodeReference");
+});