diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/go.errors b/src/cmd/gc/go.errors
index 3cb718adb13..ddd4a622269 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/go.errors
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/go.errors
@@ -13,34 +13,40 @@ static struct {
 	// Each line of the form % token list
 	// is converted by bisonerrors into the yystate and yychar caused
 	// by that token list.
-	
+
 	% loadsys package LIMPORT '(' LLITERAL import_package import_there ','
 	"unexpected comma during import block",
-	
+
 	% loadsys package imports LFUNC LNAME '(' ')' '{' LIF if_header ';'
 	"unexpected semicolon or newline before {",
-	
+
 	% loadsys package imports LFUNC LNAME '(' ')' '{' LSWITCH if_header ';'
 	"unexpected semicolon or newline before {",
-	
+
 	% loadsys package imports LFUNC LNAME '(' ')' '{' LFOR for_header ';'
 	"unexpected semicolon or newline before {",
-	
+
 	% loadsys package imports LFUNC LNAME '(' ')' '{' LFOR ';' LBODY
 	"unexpected semicolon or newline before {",
-	
+
 	% loadsys package imports LFUNC LNAME '(' ')' ';' '{'
 	"unexpected semicolon or newline before {",
-	
+
 	% loadsys package imports LTYPE LNAME ';'
 	"unexpected semicolon or newline in type declaration",
-	
+
 	% loadsys package imports LFUNC LNAME '(' ')' '{' if_stmt ';' LELSE
 	"unexpected semicolon or newline before else",
-	
+
 	% loadsys package imports LTYPE LNAME LINTERFACE '{' LNAME ',' LNAME
 	"name list not allowed in interface type",
-	
+
 	% loadsys package imports LFUNC LNAME '(' ')' '{' LFOR LVAR LNAME '=' LNAME
 	"var declaration not allowed in for initializer",
+
+	% loadsys package imports LVAR LNAME '[' ']' LNAME '{'
+	"var declaration missing = before initial value",
+
+	% loadsys package imports LFUNC LNAME '(' ')' '{' LVAR LNAME '[' ']' LNAME '{'
+	"var declaration missing = before initial value",
 };
diff --git a/test/syntax/vareq.go b/test/syntax/vareq.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ef15fe5cde0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/syntax/vareq.go
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+// errchk $G -e $D/$F.go
+
+// Copyright 2010 The Go Authors.  All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+package main
+
+func main() {
+	var x map[string]string{"a":"b"}		// ERROR "var declaration missing ="
diff --git a/test/syntax/vareq1.go b/test/syntax/vareq1.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4697d018f79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/syntax/vareq1.go
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+// errchk $G -e $D/$F.go
+
+// Copyright 2010 The Go Authors.  All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+package main
+
+var x map[string]string{"a":"b"}		// ERROR "var declaration missing ="
+