diff --git a/test/ruby/test_pattern_matching.rb b/test/ruby/test_pattern_matching.rb
index 8e8a7102aa..175b308ce8 100644
--- a/test/ruby/test_pattern_matching.rb
+++ b/test/ruby/test_pattern_matching.rb
@@ -199,6 +199,12 @@ class TestPatternMatching < Test::Unit::TestCase
         a == 1
       end
     end
+
+    assert_syntax_error(%q{
+      case 0
+      in ^a
+      end
+    }, /no such local variable/)
   end
 
   def test_literal_value_pattern