diff --git a/reframe/frontend/loader.py b/reframe/frontend/loader.py
index c00ca426f7..c072330efb 100644
--- a/reframe/frontend/loader.py
+++ b/reframe/frontend/loader.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ def _validate_source(self, filename):
         further tests and finalizes and validation."""
 
         with open(filename, 'r') as f:
-            source_tree = ast.parse(f.read())
+            source_tree = ast.parse(f.read(), filename)
 
         validator = RegressionCheckValidator()
         validator.visit(source_tree)
diff --git a/unittests/resources/checks_unlisted/invalid_syntax_check.py b/unittests/resources/checks_unlisted/invalid_syntax_check.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0e62f81758
--- /dev/null
+++ b/unittests/resources/checks_unlisted/invalid_syntax_check.py
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+import reframe as rfm
+
+
+@rfm.simple_test
+class InvalidSyntaxTest(rfm.RegressionTest:
+    pass
diff --git a/unittests/test_loader.py b/unittests/test_loader.py
index 9f2547b65a..80143a7ed1 100644
--- a/unittests/test_loader.py
+++ b/unittests/test_loader.py
@@ -58,3 +58,11 @@ def test_conflicted_checks(self):
     def test_load_error(self):
         self.assertRaises(OSError, self.loader.load_from_file,
                           'unittests/resources/checks/foo.py')
+
+    def test_load_invalid_sytax(self):
+        invalid_check = ('unittests/resources/checks_unlisted/'
+                         'invalid_syntax_check.py')
+        with self.assertRaises(SyntaxError) as e:
+            self.loader.load_from_file(invalid_check)
+
+        self.assertEqual(e.exception.filename, invalid_check)