diff --git a/toml.py b/toml.py
index 49632ed..e7d2f6b 100644
--- a/toml.py
+++ b/toml.py
@@ -335,9 +335,14 @@ def loads(s, _dict=dict):
 def _load_inline_object(line, currentlevel, _dict, multikey=False, multibackslash=False):
     candidate_groups = line[1:-1].split(",")
     groups = []
+    if len(candidate_groups) == 1 and not candidate_groups[0].strip():
+        candidate_groups.pop()
     while len(candidate_groups) > 0:
         candidate_group = candidate_groups.pop(0)
-        _, value = candidate_group.split('=', 1)
+        try:
+            _, value = candidate_group.split('=', 1)
+        except ValueError:
+            raise TomlDecodeError("Invalid inline table encountered")
         value = value.strip()
         if (value[0] == value[-1] and value[0] in ('"', "'")) or \
                 value[0] in '-0123456789' or \