diff --git a/scripts/tests/test_validate_docstrings.py b/scripts/tests/test_validate_docstrings.py
index c1bdab73c26715..60b60603f02890 100644
--- a/scripts/tests/test_validate_docstrings.py
+++ b/scripts/tests/test_validate_docstrings.py
@@ -761,9 +761,8 @@ def test_bad_generic_functions(self, func):
         ('BadParameters', 'missing_params',
          ('Parameters {**kwargs} not documented',)),
         ('BadParameters', 'bad_colon_spacing',
-         ('Parameters {kind} not documented',
-          'Unknown parameters {kind: str}',
-          'Parameter "kind: str" has no type')),
+         ('Parameter "kind" requires a space before the colon '
+          'separating the parameter name and type',)),
         ('BadParameters', 'no_description_period',
          ('Parameter "kind" description should finish with "."',)),
         ('BadParameters', 'no_description_period_with_directive',
diff --git a/scripts/validate_docstrings.py b/scripts/validate_docstrings.py
index 7da77a1f60ad51..873ba71d6539d6 100755
--- a/scripts/validate_docstrings.py
+++ b/scripts/validate_docstrings.py
@@ -97,6 +97,8 @@
     'PR08': 'Parameter "{param_name}" description should start with a '
             'capital letter',
     'PR09': 'Parameter "{param_name}" description should finish with "."',
+    'PR10': 'Parameter "{param_name}" requires a space before the colon '
+            'separating the parameter name and type',
     'RT01': 'No Returns section found',
     'YD01': 'No Yields section found',
     'SA01': 'See Also section not found',
@@ -644,7 +646,11 @@ def validate_one(func_name):
     for param in doc.doc_parameters:
         if not param.startswith("*"):  # Check can ignore var / kwargs
             if not doc.parameter_type(param):
-                errs.append(error('PR04', param_name=param))
+                if ':' in param:
+                    errs.append(error('PR10',
+                                      param_name=param.split(':')[0]))
+                else:
+                    errs.append(error('PR04', param_name=param))
             else:
                 if doc.parameter_type(param)[-1] == '.':
                     errs.append(error('PR05', param_name=param))