diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index 0bb1882..3cd73b6 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -2882,6 +2882,12 @@
 	di = find_var(lp->ll_name, NULL, TRUE);
 	if (di == NULL)
 	    ret = FAIL;
+	else if ((di->di_flags & DI_FLAGS_FIX)
+			&& di->di_tv.v_type != VAR_DICT
+			&& di->di_tv.v_type != VAR_LIST)
+	    /* For historic reasons this error is not given for a list or dict.
+	     * E.g., the b: dict could be locked/unlocked. */
+	    EMSG2(_("E940: Cannot lock or unlock variable %s"), lp->ll_name);
 	else
 	{
 	    if (lock)