diff --git a/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/patterns/compiler/PatternCompilerImpl.java b/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/patterns/compiler/PatternCompilerImpl.java
index 6d420a96a0ad..5b7f296a156e 100644
--- a/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/patterns/compiler/PatternCompilerImpl.java
+++ b/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/patterns/compiler/PatternCompilerImpl.java
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ public class PatternCompilerImpl<T> implements PatternCompiler<T> {
             curFrame.state = ch == '('? State.param_start : State.name_end;
           }
           else {
-            throw new IllegalStateException("'"+curString+ch+"' method name start is invalid");
+            throw new IllegalStateException("'"+curString+ch+"' method name start is invalid, '(' expected");
           }
           break;
         case name_end: