diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 84999d8..ea0908c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -22,6 +22,18 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- Apply the YAML 1.2 flow `:` rule instead of libyaml's "always a value
+  indicator in flow". In a flow collection a `:` only ends a node when it is
+  followed by whitespace, the end of input, or a flow indicator, or when it is
+  adjacent to a JSON key (a quoted scalar or a flow collection used as the key).
+  Otherwise the `:` is plain-scalar content. So `[:x]` and `{x: :x}` keep the
+  scalar `:x`, `http://foo.com` and `::vector` stay single scalars, `"key":value`
+  and `{JSON: like}:adjacent` bind the value across the adjacent `:`, and
+  `omitted value:,` is a key with an empty value rather than a scan error. The
+  pending simple key now records whether it is a JSON node, and the plain scalar
+  scanner ends (rather than rejecting) at a `:` before a flow indicator. Surpasses
+  libyaml on 4ABK, 58MP, 5T43, DBG4, FRK4, and HM87/00, with 9MMW (mixed
+  adjacent/separate keys) still correct.
 - Treat `?` in a flow collection as plain-scalar content unless it is followed by
   whitespace, the end of input, or a flow indicator. libyaml makes every `?` in
   flow context a mapping-key indicator, dropping the `?` from `?foo`, but
diff --git a/Sources/Parsing/LibYAML.Scanner.Fetch.swift b/Sources/Parsing/LibYAML.Scanner.Fetch.swift
index 58f3567..bcb6c1c 100644
--- a/Sources/Parsing/LibYAML.Scanner.Fetch.swift
+++ b/Sources/Parsing/LibYAML.Scanner.Fetch.swift
@@ -111,7 +111,12 @@ extension PureYAML.Parsing.LibYAML.Scanner {
             // `ns-plain-first` a `?` followed by a flow-safe character (anything but
             // whitespace, end, or a flow indicator) begins a plain scalar (`?foo`).
             fetchKey()
-        case ":" where flowLevel > 0 || Classify.isBlankZ(reader.peek(1)):
+        case ":" where Classify.isBlankZ(reader.peek(1))
+            || (flowLevel > 0 && (Classify.isFlowIndicator(reader.peek(1)) || flowKeyIsJSON)):
+            // In flow context libyaml makes every `:` a value indicator. Per the
+            // spec a `:` only ends a node when followed by whitespace, end of
+            // input, or a flow indicator, except an adjacent `:` after a JSON
+            // (quoted) key. Otherwise the `:` is plain-scalar content (`:x`).
             try fetchValue()
         default:
             // A plain scalar may begin with any non-blank character; a blank (a
@@ -128,6 +133,13 @@ extension PureYAML.Parsing.LibYAML.Scanner {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Whether this flow level's pending simple key is a JSON (quoted) node, which
+    /// lets an adjacent `:` open its value without a separating space.
+    private var flowKeyIsJSON: Bool {
+        let key = simpleKeys[simpleKeys.count - 1]
+        return key.possible && key.isJSON
+    }
+
     /// Fetch a flow-collection indicator (`[` `]` `{` `}` `,`); returns false
     /// otherwise.
     private mutating func fetchFlowToken(_ character: Unicode.Scalar) throws -> Bool {
@@ -178,7 +190,13 @@ extension PureYAML.Parsing.LibYAML.Scanner {
     /// Port of `yaml_parser_fetch_flow_scalar`.
     private mutating func fetchFlowScalar(single: Bool) throws {
         mark = reader.mark
+        let saved = simpleKeyAllowed
         try saveSimpleKey()
+        // A quoted scalar that became this level's simple key is a JSON node, so a
+        // later adjacent `:` (no space) still opens its value.
+        if saved {
+            simpleKeys[simpleKeys.count - 1].isJSON = true
+        }
         simpleKeyAllowed = false
         let token = try scanFlowScalar(single: single)
         indentEngine.enqueue(token)
@@ -196,7 +214,13 @@ extension PureYAML.Parsing.LibYAML.Scanner {
     /// Port of `yaml_parser_fetch_flow_collection_start`.
     private mutating func fetchFlowCollectionStart(_ type: PureYAML.Parsing.LibYAML.TokenType) {
         // saveSimpleKey cannot throw in flow: a required key needs block context.
+        let saved = simpleKeyAllowed
         try? saveSimpleKey()
+        // A flow collection is a JSON node, so when it is this level's simple key
+        // an adjacent `:` after its closing `]`/`}` still opens its value.
+        if saved {
+            simpleKeys[simpleKeys.count - 1].isJSON = true
+        }
         increaseFlowLevel()
         simpleKeyAllowed = true
         let startMark = reader.mark
diff --git a/Sources/Parsing/LibYAML.Scanner.PlainScalar.swift b/Sources/Parsing/LibYAML.Scanner.PlainScalar.swift
index d6be040..908e28d 100644
--- a/Sources/Parsing/LibYAML.Scanner.PlainScalar.swift
+++ b/Sources/Parsing/LibYAML.Scanner.PlainScalar.swift
@@ -52,13 +52,16 @@ extension PureYAML.Parsing.LibYAML.Scanner {
 
     /// Consume the run of non-blank characters, folding any pending breaks or
     /// whitespace ahead of each one.
-    private mutating func consumePlainContent(_ state: inout PlainState, startMark: PureYAML.Parsing.Mark) throws {
+    private mutating func consumePlainContent(_ state: inout PlainState, startMark _: PureYAML.Parsing.Mark) throws {
         while let character = reader.peek(), !Classify.isBlankZ(character) {
             if character == ":", Classify.isBlankZ(reader.peek(1)) {
                 break
             }
             if flowLevel > 0, character == ":", Classify.isFlowIndicator(reader.peek(1)) {
-                throw scannerError("found unexpected ':'", at: startMark)
+                // A `:` before a flow indicator ends the key; the value is empty.
+                // libyaml rejects this as an unexpected ':', but it is a valid
+                // value indicator in flow context.
+                break
             }
             if flowLevel > 0, Classify.isFlowIndicator(character) {
                 break
diff --git a/Sources/Parsing/LibYAML.SimpleKey.swift b/Sources/Parsing/LibYAML.SimpleKey.swift
index 503c6e0..c6b6c4a 100644
--- a/Sources/Parsing/LibYAML.SimpleKey.swift
+++ b/Sources/Parsing/LibYAML.SimpleKey.swift
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ extension PureYAML.Parsing.LibYAML {
         var tokenNumber: Int
         /// The position the potential key started at.
         var mark: PureYAML.Parsing.Mark
+        /// Whether this key is a JSON-style node (a quoted flow scalar). A `:`
+        /// adjacent to such a key is a value indicator even without a following
+        /// space, per the YAML flow "adjacent value" rule.
+        var isJSON = false
 
         /// The empty entry pushed for a new flow level (`{ 0, 0, 0, {0,0,0} }`).
         static var empty: Self {
diff --git a/Tests/CanonicalEventConformanceTests.swift b/Tests/CanonicalEventConformanceTests.swift
index 059bfdb..3fb51a4 100644
--- a/Tests/CanonicalEventConformanceTests.swift
+++ b/Tests/CanonicalEventConformanceTests.swift
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ struct CanonicalEventConformanceTests {
     /// Valid suite cases whose event stream PureYAML does NOT yet emit exactly.
     /// This is the authoritative gap set: a fix removes an id (and the test fails
     /// until it is removed), a regression adds one (and the test fails). Of these,
-    /// 14 currently throw on valid input and 2 emit a wrong event stream.
+    /// 8 currently throw on valid input and 2 emit a wrong event stream.
     static let knownEventGaps: Set<String> = [
         // Gap set for the ported libyaml engine. Verified against the libyaml
         // reference dumper: on all but four of these the port matches libyaml
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@ struct CanonicalEventConformanceTests {
         // itself handles.
         //
         // false-rejects (parseEvents throws on valid input, as libyaml does)
-        "4ABK", "58MP", "5T43", "6BCT", "6CA3",
-        "A2M4", "CFD4", "DBG4", "DK95/00",
-        "DK95/04", "FRK4", "HM87/00",
+        "6BCT", "6CA3",
+        "A2M4", "CFD4", "DK95/00",
+        "DK95/04",
         "Q5MG",
         "Y79Y/010",
         // wrong event stream: the port matches libyaml but both deviate from the