diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/go.errors b/src/cmd/gc/go.errors
index e29cfff5bd4..68a5e5af3aa 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/go.errors
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/go.errors
@@ -65,6 +65,9 @@ static struct {
 	% loadsys package imports LVAR LNAME '=' LNAME '{' LNAME ';'
 	"need trailing comma before newline in composite literal",
 	
+	% loadsys package imports LVAR LNAME '=' comptype '{' LNAME ';'
+	"need trailing comma before newline in composite literal",
+	
 	% loadsys package imports LFUNC LNAME '(' ')' '{' LFUNC LNAME
 	"nested func not allowed",
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/yerr.h b/src/cmd/gc/yerr.h
index 588890d0edf..256c48b0ec8 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/yerr.h
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/yerr.h
@@ -65,6 +65,9 @@ static struct {
 	425, ';',
 	"need trailing comma before newline in composite literal",
 	
+	435, ';',
+	"need trailing comma before newline in composite literal",
+	
 	112, LNAME,
 	"nested func not allowed",
 
diff --git a/test/syntax/composite.go b/test/syntax/composite.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6565334935b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/syntax/composite.go
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+// errorcheck
+
+// Copyright 2012 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 a = []int{
+	3 // ERROR "need trailing comma before newline in composite literal"
+}