diff --git a/src/testdir/test_vim9_expr.vim b/src/testdir/test_vim9_expr.vim
index ea79c04..321dbf9 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_vim9_expr.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_vim9_expr.vim
@@ -687,6 +687,8 @@
 
   call CheckDefFailure("let x = @", "E1002:")
   call CheckDefFailure("let x = @<", "E354:")
+
+  call CheckDefFailure("let x = &notexist", "E113:")
 endfunc
 
 let g:Funcrefs = [function('add')]