Error: Invalid single-argument block definition

TL;DR: You put an argument on the same line as the block's opening brace without closing it on the same line. HCL treats that as a single-line block definition, which must open AND close on one line. Either close it there or move the argument to its own line.

Error: Invalid single-argument block definition

  on terragrunt.hcl line 1, in terraform:

   1: terraform { source = "./mod"

   2: inputs = { a = }

An argument definition on the same line as its containing block creates a
single-line block definition, which must also be closed on the same line.

Steps

1. Run terragrunt hcl validate. Expected: it points at the exact line (better than guessing).

2. Fix the block: either close it on the same line (terraform { source = "./mod" }) or put the argument on its own line inside a multi-line block. Expected: braces balance.

3. Run terragrunt hcl fmt --check --diff for formatting. Expected: clean.

4. Re-run your command. Expected: the parse error is gone.

When this applies

• Invalid single-argument block definition naming a block with an argument on the opening line.
• Any HCL syntax error in terragrunt.hcl / root.hcl: the validator path is the same.

When it doesn't apply

• The file parses but a VALUE is wrong (unknown attribute, type mismatch): those are evaluation errors; terragrunt render shows the resolved config.
• ${...} inside a generate heredoc being eaten by Terragrunt: that's the generate-template trap (escape as $${...}), not a syntax error.

Tool versions

All Terragrunt versions (HCL syntax).

Why it happens

HCL has two block forms: single-line (block { arg = x }) and multi-line. An argument on the opening line selects the single-line form, so a missing closing brace on that line is a syntax error, not just bad style.

Edge cases

• Two Terragrunt-specific traps that LOOK like generic HCL errors: values.* unbound outside a generated unit (validate the materialized unit after terragrunt stack generate, not the catalog source), and ${...} in generate heredocs evaluated by Terragrunt instead of passed through.

Asked: how to fix Error: Invalid single-argument block definition. Verified answer: Fixes Terragrunt's 'Error: Invalid single-argument block definition' by closing single-line blocks on the same line. The fix steps above were cross-checked against the accepted community answer at https://github.com/kevin-burns/claude-skills/blob/HEAD/terragrunt-skill/references/error-patterns.md, which confirms the same resolution.