--- a/tests/test-command-template.t	Thu Jun 12 17:53:37 2014 -0700
+++ b/tests/test-command-template.t	Thu Jun 12 18:07:21 2014 -0700
@@ -1911,3 +1911,9 @@
   |
   o  line 1
      line 2
+
+Test bad template with better error message
+
+  $ hg log -Gv -R a --template '{desc|user()}'
+  hg: parse error: expected a symbol, got 'func'
+  [255]