diff --git a/parse.y b/parse.y
index bf6c726024..c78f5139f7 100644
--- a/parse.y
+++ b/parse.y
@@ -1788,7 +1788,7 @@ mlhs_node	: user_variable
 		| primary_value call_op tIDENTIFIER
 		    {
 			if ($2 == tANDDOT) {
-			    yyerror1(&@2, "&. inside LHS of multiple assignment");
+			    yyerror1(&@2, "&. inside multiple assignment destination");
 			}
 		    /*%%%*/
 			$$ = attrset(p, $1, $2, $3, &@$);
@@ -1805,7 +1805,7 @@ mlhs_node	: user_variable
 		| primary_value call_op tCONSTANT
 		    {
 			if ($2 == tANDDOT) {
-			    yyerror1(&@2, "&. inside LHS of multiple assignment");
+			    yyerror1(&@2, "&. inside multiple assignment destination");
 			}
 		    /*%%%*/
 			$$ = attrset(p, $1, $2, $3, &@$);
diff --git a/test/ruby/test_syntax.rb b/test/ruby/test_syntax.rb
index 8112b14690..f2fcf671aa 100644
--- a/test/ruby/test_syntax.rb
+++ b/test/ruby/test_syntax.rb
@@ -977,8 +977,8 @@ eom
   end
 
   def test_safe_call_in_massign_lhs
-    assert_syntax_error("*a&.x=0", /LHS/)
-    assert_syntax_error("a&.x,=0", /LHS/)
+    assert_syntax_error("*a&.x=0", /multiple assignment destination/)
+    assert_syntax_error("a&.x,=0", /multiple assignment destination/)
   end
 
   def test_no_warning_logop_literal