diff --git a/scripts/qapi/parser.py b/scripts/qapi/parser.py
index bfd2dbfd9a..23898ab1dc 100644
--- a/scripts/qapi/parser.py
+++ b/scripts/qapi/parser.py
@@ -556,9 +556,11 @@ def _append_body_line(self, line):
             if not line.endswith(':'):
                 raise QAPIParseError(self._parser, "line should end with ':'")
             self.symbol = line[1:-1]
-            # FIXME invalid names other than the empty string aren't flagged
+            # Invalid names are not checked here, but the name provided MUST
+            # match the following definition, which *is* validated in expr.py.
             if not self.symbol:
-                raise QAPIParseError(self._parser, "invalid name")
+                raise QAPIParseError(
+                    self._parser, "name required after '@'")
         elif self.symbol:
             # This is a definition documentation block
             if name.startswith('@') and name.endswith(':'):
diff --git a/tests/qapi-schema/doc-empty-symbol.err b/tests/qapi-schema/doc-empty-symbol.err
index 81b90e882a..aa51be41b2 100644
--- a/tests/qapi-schema/doc-empty-symbol.err
+++ b/tests/qapi-schema/doc-empty-symbol.err
@@ -1 +1 @@
-doc-empty-symbol.json:4:1: invalid name
+doc-empty-symbol.json:4:1: name required after '@'