diff --git a/src/libsyntax/parse/parser.rs b/src/libsyntax/parse/parser.rs
index edb1f7eb926..f3809455fe0 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/parse/parser.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/parse/parser.rs
@@ -2134,6 +2134,12 @@ impl<'a> Parser<'a> {
                 }
                 hi = self.last_span.hi;
             }
+            _ if self.token.is_keyword(keywords::Let) => {
+                // Catch this syntax error here, instead of in `check_strict_keywords`, so that
+                // we can explicitly mention that let is not to be used as an expression
+                let msg = "`let` is not an expression, so it cannot be used in this way";
+                return Err(self.diagnostic().struct_span_err(self.span, &msg));
+            },
             _ => {
                 if self.eat_lt() {
                     let (qself, path) =
@@ -2199,12 +2205,6 @@ impl<'a> Parser<'a> {
                         UnsafeBlock(ast::UserProvided),
                         attrs);
                 }
-                if self.eat_keyword(keywords::Let) {
-                    return Err(self.span_fatal(self.span,
-                                               "`let` is not an expression, so it cannot \
-                                                be used in this way"))
-
-                }
                 if self.eat_keyword(keywords::Return) {
                     if self.token.can_begin_expr() {
                         let e = try!(self.parse_expr());