diff --git a/src/testdir/test_expr.vim b/src/testdir/test_expr.vim
index 6d6efe7..c354367 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_expr.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_expr.vim
@@ -458,6 +458,9 @@
   call v9.CheckLegacyAndVim9Success(lines)
 
   call v9.CheckLegacyAndVim9Failure(["call printf('123', 3)"], "E767:")
+
+  " this was using uninitialized memory
+  call v9.CheckLegacyAndVim9Failure(["eval ''->printf()"], "E119:")
 endfunc
 
 func Test_printf_float()