diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
index 39edec6f09..1909dd0f5b 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
@@ -1844,7 +1844,11 @@ pub fn (mut c Checker) assign_stmt(mut assign_stmt ast.AssignStmt) {
 						assign_stmt.pos)
 				}
 			}
-			else {}
+			else {
+				if is_decl {
+					c.error('non-name `$left` on left side of `:=`', left.position())
+				}
+			}
 		}
 		left_type_unwrapped := c.unwrap_generic(left_type)
 		right_type_unwrapped := c.unwrap_generic(right_type)