diff --git a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/env/ProfilesParser.java b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/env/ProfilesParser.java
index 9d477c9d7d97..326f6f659c4e 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/env/ProfilesParser.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/env/ProfilesParser.java
@@ -88,13 +88,10 @@ private static Profiles parseTokens(String expression, StringTokenizer tokens, C
 				}
 				case "!" -> elements.add(not(parseTokens(expression, tokens, Context.NEGATE)));
 				case ")" -> {
-					Profiles merged = merge(expression, elements, operator);
 					if (context == Context.PARENTHESIS) {
-						return merged;
+						return merge(expression, elements, operator);
 					}
-					elements.clear();
-					elements.add(merged);
-					operator = null;
+					assertWellFormed(expression, false);
 				}
 				default -> {
 					Profiles value = equals(token);
@@ -105,6 +102,7 @@ private static Profiles parseTokens(String expression, StringTokenizer tokens, C
 				}
 			}
 		}
+		assertWellFormed(expression, context != Context.PARENTHESIS);
 		return merge(expression, elements, operator);
 	}
 
diff --git a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/env/ProfilesTests.java b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/env/ProfilesTests.java
index dde5aa676a97..7cfcb837dceb 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/env/ProfilesTests.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/env/ProfilesTests.java
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ void ofAndExpression() {
 
 	@Test
 	void ofAndExpressionWithoutSpaces() {
-		Profiles profiles = Profiles.of("spring&framework)");
+		Profiles profiles = Profiles.of("(spring&framework)");
 		assertAndExpression(profiles);
 	}
 
@@ -292,6 +292,15 @@ void malformedExpressions() {
 		assertMalformed(() -> Profiles.of("a & b | c"));
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	void malformedExpressionsWithUnbalancedParentheses() {
+		assertMalformed(() -> Profiles.of("dev)"));
+		assertMalformed(() -> Profiles.of("(dev"));
+		assertMalformed(() -> Profiles.of("spring&framework)"));
+		assertMalformed(() -> Profiles.of("((dev)"));
+		assertMalformed(() -> Profiles.of("(dev))"));
+	}
+
 	@Test
 	void sensibleToString() {
 		assertThat(Profiles.of("spring")).hasToString("spring");