diff --git a/src/libsyntax/parse/parser.rs b/src/libsyntax/parse/parser.rs
index fb3e8a5ded5a..360742b37b7d 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/parse/parser.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/parse/parser.rs
@@ -698,7 +698,8 @@ pub impl Parser {
             let path = self.parse_path_with_tps(false);
             ty_path(path, self.get_id())
         } else {
-            self.fatal(~"expected type");
+            self.fatal(fmt!("expected type, found token %?",
+                            *self.token));
         };
 
         let sp = mk_sp(lo, self.last_span.hi);