diff --git a/src/dreammaker/constants.rs b/src/dreammaker/constants.rs
index b013f02e..225f42b8 100644
--- a/src/dreammaker/constants.rs
+++ b/src/dreammaker/constants.rs
@@ -840,7 +840,7 @@ impl<'a> ConstantFolder<'a> {
         while let Some(ty) = idx {
             let location = self.location;
             if self.tree.is_none() {
-                return Err(self.error("cannot reference variables in this context"));
+                return Err(self.error(format!("cannot reference variable {:?} in this context", ident)));
             }
             let tree = self.tree.as_mut().unwrap();
             match constant_ident_lookup(tree, ty, &ident, must_be_const)