diff --git a/Examples/test-suite/errors/c_missing_semi.stderr b/Examples/test-suite/errors/c_missing_semi.stderr
index 9f539e4ab..18befaa1b 100644
--- a/Examples/test-suite/errors/c_missing_semi.stderr
+++ b/Examples/test-suite/errors/c_missing_semi.stderr
@@ -1 +1 @@
-c_missing_semi.i:3: Error: Syntax error - missing ';'?
+c_missing_semi.i:3: Error: Syntax error - possibly a missing semicolon.
diff --git a/Source/CParse/parser.y b/Source/CParse/parser.y
index 4f48b62ff..1fb759081 100644
--- a/Source/CParse/parser.y
+++ b/Source/CParse/parser.y
@@ -3029,7 +3029,7 @@ c_decl_tail    : SEMI {
 		   if (yychar == RPAREN) {
 		       Swig_error(cparse_file, cparse_line, "Unexpected ')'.\n");
 		   } else {
-		       Swig_error(cparse_file, cparse_line, "Syntax error - missing ';'?\n");
+		       Swig_error(cparse_file, cparse_line, "Syntax error - possibly a missing semicolon.\n");
 		   }
 		   exit(1);
                }