diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/typecheck.c b/src/cmd/gc/typecheck.c
index 9466c39c144..89cd1d65917 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/typecheck.c
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/typecheck.c
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ reswitch:
 		n->right = r;
 		t = r->type;
 		if(!isint[t->etype] || issigned[t->etype]) {
-			yyerror("invalid operation: %#N (shift count type %T)", n, r->type);
+			yyerror("invalid operation: %#N (shift count type %T, must be unsigned integer)", n, r->type);
 			goto error;
 		}
 		t = l->type;