diff --git a/src/errors.h b/src/errors.h
index 3cbdb53..40925f8 100644
--- a/src/errors.h
+++ b/src/errors.h
@@ -639,3 +639,5 @@
 	INIT(= N_("E1227: List or Dictionary required for argument %d"));
 EXTERN char e_list_or_dict_or_blob_required_for_argument_nr[]
 	INIT(= N_("E1228: List or Dictionary or Blob required for argument %d"));
+EXTERN char e_expected_dictionary_for_using_key_str_but_got_str[]
+	INIT(= N_("E1229: Expected dictionary for using key \"%s\", but got %s"));
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_vim9_expr.vim b/src/testdir/test_vim9_expr.vim
index 88f725b..f207056 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_vim9_expr.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_vim9_expr.vim
@@ -3114,7 +3114,7 @@
   call CheckDefExecAndScriptFailure(["var x = +g:alist"], 'E745:', 1)
   call CheckDefExecAndScriptFailure(["var x = +g:adict"], 'E728:', 1)
 
-  call CheckDefAndScriptFailure2(["var x = ''", "var y = x.memb"], 'E715:', 'E488:', 2)
+  call CheckDefAndScriptFailure2(["var x = ''", "var y = x.memb"], 'E1229: Expected dictionary for using key "memb", but got string', 'E488:', 2)
 
   call CheckDefAndScriptFailure2(["'yes'->", "Echo()"], 'E488: Trailing characters: ->', 'E260: Missing name after ->', 1)
 
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index eb65665..6a8f7c8 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -756,6 +756,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    3238,
+/**/
     3237,
 /**/
     3236,
diff --git a/src/vim9compile.c b/src/vim9compile.c
index 0d54db3..cb00f034 100644
--- a/src/vim9compile.c
+++ b/src/vim9compile.c
@@ -2177,7 +2177,11 @@
     type = ((type_T **)stack->ga_data)[stack->ga_len - 1];
     if (type->tt_type != VAR_DICT && type != &t_any)
     {
-	emsg(_(e_dictreq));
+	char *tofree;
+
+	semsg(_(e_expected_dictionary_for_using_key_str_but_got_str),
+					       name, type_name(type, &tofree));
+	vim_free(tofree);
 	return FAIL;
     }
     // change dict type to dict member type