diff --git a/number.go b/number.go
index a58dc4d..4f709fa 100644
--- a/number.go
+++ b/number.go
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ func parseInt[T integer](s string) (T, error) {
 }
 
 func parseUint[T unsigned](s string) (T, error) {
-	v, err := strconv.ParseUint(strings.TrimLeft(trimDecimal(s), "+"), 0, 0)
+	v, err := strconv.ParseUint(strings.TrimPrefix(trimDecimal(s), "+"), 0, 0)
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, err
 	}
@@ -529,6 +529,10 @@ func trimDecimal(s string) string {
 		return s
 	}
 
+	if s == "." || s == "+." || s == "-." {
+		return s
+	}
+
 	matches := stringNumberRe.FindStringSubmatch(s)
 	if matches != nil {
 		// matches[1] is the captured integer part with sign
diff --git a/number_internal_test.go b/number_internal_test.go
index 6d333d0..abda2f2 100644
--- a/number_internal_test.go
+++ b/number_internal_test.go
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ func TestTrimDecimal(t *testing.T) {
 		{"10.foobar", "10.foobar"},
 		{"10.0i", "10.0i"},
 		{"10.0E9", "10.0E9"},
+		{".", "."},
+		{"+.", "+."},
+		{"-.", "-."},
 	}
 
 	for _, testCase := range testCases {
diff --git a/number_test.go b/number_test.go
index 9d84d18..933cfc9 100644
--- a/number_test.go
+++ b/number_test.go
@@ -464,3 +464,15 @@ func BenchmarkNumber(b *testing.B) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestInvalidNumberStrings(t *testing.T) {
+	c := qt.New(t)
+
+	for _, s := range []string{".", "-.", "+.", "++5", "+-5"} {
+		_, err := cast.ToIntE(s)
+		c.Assert(err, qt.IsNotNil, qt.Commentf("ToIntE(%q)", s))
+
+		_, err = cast.ToUintE(s)
+		c.Assert(err, qt.IsNotNil, qt.Commentf("ToUintE(%q)", s))
+	}
+}