diff --git a/src/blurb/blurb.py b/src/blurb/blurb.py
index 0af3ea9..25c3b87 100755
--- a/src/blurb/blurb.py
+++ b/src/blurb/blurb.py
@@ -482,14 +482,14 @@ def finish_entry():
                 # we'll complain about the *first* error
                 # we see in the blurb file, which is a
                 # better user experience.
-                if key == "gh-issue" and int(value) < lowest_possible_gh_issue_number:
-                    throw(f"The gh-issue number must be {lowest_possible_gh_issue_number} or above, not a PR number.")
-
                 if key in issue_keys:
                     try:
                         int(value)
                     except (TypeError, ValueError):
-                        throw(f"Invalid {issue_keys[key]} issue number! ({value!r})")
+                        throw(f"Invalid {issue_keys[key]} number: {value!r}")
+
+                if key == "gh-issue" and int(value) < lowest_possible_gh_issue_number:
+                    throw(f"Invalid gh-issue number: {value!r} (must be >= {lowest_possible_gh_issue_number})")
 
                 if key == "section":
                     if no_changes:
@@ -497,6 +497,9 @@ def finish_entry():
                     if value not in sections:
                         throw(f"Invalid section {value!r}!  You must use one of the predefined sections.")
 
+            if "gh-issue" not in metadata and "bpo" not in metadata:
+                throw("'gh-issue:' or 'bpo:' must be specified in the metadata!")
+
             if not 'section' in metadata:
                 throw("No 'section' specified.  You must provide one!")
 
diff --git a/tests/test_blurb.py b/tests/test_blurb.py
index 9ff3a8d..cd8f20a 100644
--- a/tests/test_blurb.py
+++ b/tests/test_blurb.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import pytest
-from pyfakefs.fake_filesystem import FakeFilesystem
 
 from blurb import blurb
 
@@ -188,3 +187,68 @@ def test_version(capfd):
     # Assert
     captured = capfd.readouterr()
     assert captured.out.startswith("blurb version ")
+
+
+def test_parse():
+    # Arrange
+    contents = ".. gh-issue: 123456\n.. section: IDLE\nHello world!"
+    blurbs = blurb.Blurbs()
+
+    # Act
+    blurbs.parse(contents)
+
+    # Assert
+    metadata, body = blurbs[0]
+    assert metadata["gh-issue"] == "123456"
+    assert metadata["section"] == "IDLE"
+    assert body == "Hello world!\n"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "contents, expected_error",
+    (
+        (
+            "",
+            r"Blurb 'body' text must not be empty!",
+        ),
+        (
+            "gh-issue: Hello world!",
+            r"Blurb 'body' can't start with 'gh-'!",
+        ),
+        (
+            ".. gh-issue: 1\n.. section: IDLE\nHello world!",
+            r"Invalid gh-issue number: '1' \(must be >= 32426\)",
+        ),
+        (
+            ".. bpo: one-two\n.. section: IDLE\nHello world!",
+            r"Invalid bpo number: 'one-two'",
+        ),
+        (
+            ".. gh-issue: one-two\n.. section: IDLE\nHello world!",
+            r"Invalid GitHub number: 'one-two'",
+        ),
+        (
+            ".. gh-issue: 123456\n.. section: Funky Kong\nHello world!",
+            r"Invalid section 'Funky Kong'!  You must use one of the predefined sections",
+        ),
+        (
+            ".. gh-issue: 123456\nHello world!",
+            r"No 'section' specified.  You must provide one!",
+        ),
+        (
+            ".. gh-issue: 123456\n.. section: IDLE\n.. section: IDLE\nHello world!",
+            r"Blurb metadata sets 'section' twice!",
+        ),
+        (
+            ".. section: IDLE\nHello world!",
+            r"'gh-issue:' or 'bpo:' must be specified in the metadata!",
+        ),
+    ),
+)
+def test_parse_no_body(contents, expected_error):
+    # Arrange
+    blurbs = blurb.Blurbs()
+
+    # Act / Assert
+    with pytest.raises(blurb.BlurbError, match=expected_error):
+        blurbs.parse(contents)