1 files changed, 2 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/syntax/Ident.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/syntax/Ident.java
index 19d4483a5f..62ad77b2c4 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/syntax/Ident.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/syntax/Ident.java
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ public final class Ident extends Expression {
   SkylarkType validate(ValidationEnvironment env) throws EvalException {
     if (env.hasSymbolInEnvironment(name)) {
       return env.getVartype(name);
+    } else if (name.equals("$error$")) {
+      throw new EvalException(getLocation(), "contains syntax error(s)", true);
     } else {
       throw new EvalException(getLocation(), "name '" + name + "' is not defined");
     }