diff --git a/compiler/parse.c b/compiler/parse.c
index 34c9d47..39a5ae6 100644
--- a/compiler/parse.c
+++ b/compiler/parse.c
@@ -401,9 +401,9 @@ if_stmt_expr(ParserState *ps)
 				return tree;
 			Assert(next.id == T_ELSE || next.id == T_ELIF);
 			break;
-		default: /* shouldn't happen */
+		default:
 			lex_backup(ps->lexer, next);
-			parse_error(ps, "huh?: %s", TokenIdStr[next.id]);
+			parse_error(ps, "expected 'elif' or 'else', got '%s'", TokenIdStr[next.id]);
 			return nil;
 		}
 	}