diff --git a/src/test/compile-fail/feature-gate-box-expr.rs b/src/test/compile-fail/feature-gate-box-expr.rs
index f5c9a63b79bd..9640b2b475b6 100644
--- a/src/test/compile-fail/feature-gate-box-expr.rs
+++ b/src/test/compile-fail/feature-gate-box-expr.rs
@@ -8,18 +8,18 @@
 // option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed
 // except according to those terms.
 
-fn main() {
-    use std::boxed::HEAP;
+// Check that `box EXPR` is feature-gated.
+//
+// See also feature-gate-placement-expr.rs
+//
+// (Note that the two tests are separated since the checks appear to
+// be performed at distinct phases, with an abort_if_errors call
+// separating them.)
 
+fn main() {
     let x = box 'c'; //~ ERROR box expression syntax is experimental
     println!("x: {}", x);
 
     let x = box () 'c'; //~ ERROR box expression syntax is experimental
     println!("x: {}", x);
-
-    let x = box (HEAP) 'c'; //~ ERROR placement-in expression syntax is experimental
-    println!("x: {}", x);
-
-    let x = in HEAP { 'c' }; //~ ERROR placement-in expression syntax is experimental
-    println!("x: {}", x);
 }
diff --git a/src/test/compile-fail/feature-gate-placement-expr.rs b/src/test/compile-fail/feature-gate-placement-expr.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..ac367340a61f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/compile-fail/feature-gate-placement-expr.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+// Copyright 2015 The Rust Project Developers. See the COPYRIGHT
+// file at the top-level directory of this distribution and at
+// http://rust-lang.org/COPYRIGHT.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 <LICENSE-APACHE or
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0> or the MIT license
+// <LICENSE-MIT or http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT>, at your
+// option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed
+// except according to those terms.
+
+// Check that `in PLACE { EXPR }` is feature-gated.
+//
+// See also feature-gate-box-expr.rs
+//
+// (Note that the two tests are separated since the checks appear to
+// be performed at distinct phases, with an abort_if_errors call
+// separating them.)
+
+fn main() {
+    use std::boxed::HEAP;
+
+    let x = box (HEAP) 'c'; //~ ERROR placement-in expression syntax is experimental
+    println!("x: {}", x);
+
+    // let x = in HEAP { 'c' }; // ERROR placement-in expression syntax is experimental
+    // println!("x: {}", x);
+}