SilverStripe: Parse error: syntax error, unexpected right curly bracket

Problem

I want to access this property from within my SilverStripe template:

<% if Top.Controller.activeStep == 2 %>
    <p>Step 2</p>
<% end_if %>

but it's given me this error:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '}' in /tmp/silverstripe-cache/...

Environment

• SilverStripe-2.4.5

Workaround

Add a controller method isActiveStep2:

function isActiveStep2() {
    return 2 == $this->activeStep;
}

Access the controller method from within the template like this:

<% if Top.Controller.isActiveStep2 %>
    <p>Step 2</p>
<% end_if %>