diff --git a/src/local-time.lisp b/src/local-time.lisp
index 03feb62d..0625d9c5 100644
--- a/src/local-time.lisp
+++ b/src/local-time.lisp
@@ -1594,17 +1594,18 @@ The value of this variable should have the methods `local-time::clock-now', and
                              (let* ((entry (second parts))
                                     (start (car entry))
                                     (end (cdr entry)))
-                               (declare (type fixnum start end))
+                               ;(declare (type fixnum start end))
                                (passert (or zulup
                                             (not (zerop (- end start)))))
                                (unless zulup
                                  (time-offset (second parts) sign))))))))
                  (partial-time (start-end)
                    (with-parts-and-count ((car start-end) (cdr start-end) time-separator)
-                     (passert (eql count 3))
+                     (passert (<= 2 count 3))
                      (time-hour (first parts))
                      (time-minute (second parts))
-                     (time-second (third parts))))
+                     (when (third parts)
+                       (time-second (third parts)))))
                  (time-hour (start-end)
                    (parse-integer-into start-end hour 0 23))
                  (time-minute (start-end)