diff --git a/arrow/parser.py b/arrow/parser.py
index fc3774b09..8be285e4d 100644
--- a/arrow/parser.py
+++ b/arrow/parser.py
@@ -422,12 +422,24 @@ def parse(
         parts: _Parts = {}
         for token in fmt_tokens:
             value: Union[Tuple[str, str, str], str]
-            if token == "Do":
-                value = match.group("value")
-            elif token == "W":
-                value = (match.group("year"), match.group("week"), match.group("day"))
-            else:
-                value = match.group(token)
+            try:
+                if token == "Do":
+                    value = match.group("value")
+                elif token == "W":
+                    value = (
+                        match.group("year"),
+                        match.group("week"),
+                        match.group("day"),
+                    )
+                else:
+                    value = match.group(token)
+            except IndexError:
+                # A malformed format can leave a token in ``fmt_tokens`` without a
+                # corresponding capture group in the compiled pattern. Surface this
+                # as a ParserError rather than letting a raw IndexError escape.
+                raise ParserMatchError(
+                    f"Unable to find a match group for the specified token {token!r}."
+                )
 
             if value is None:
                 raise ParserMatchError(
diff --git a/tests/test_parser.py b/tests/test_parser.py
index 7038d880f..0779c776d 100644
--- a/tests/test_parser.py
+++ b/tests/test_parser.py
@@ -191,6 +191,14 @@ def test_parse_parse_no_match(self):
         with pytest.raises(ParserError):
             self.parser.parse("01-01", "YYYY-MM-DD")
 
+    def test_parse_malformed_fmt_no_match_group(self):
+        # A malformed format string can leave a token without a corresponding
+        # capture group in the compiled pattern; this must raise a ParserError
+        # rather than leaking a raw IndexError from match.group().
+        # Regression test for https://github.com/arrow-py/arrow/issues/1191
+        with pytest.raises(ParserMatchError):
+            self.parser.parse("foo", "[|(\\]s")
+
     def test_parse_separators(self):
         with pytest.raises(ParserError):
             self.parser.parse("1403549231", "YYYY-MM-DD")