diff --git a/ContainerBuilder.php b/ContainerBuilder.php
index 0fd333aed..deb65875e 100644
--- a/ContainerBuilder.php
+++ b/ContainerBuilder.php
@@ -734,19 +734,22 @@ public function findDefinition($id)
      *
      * @throws RuntimeException When the scope is inactive
      * @throws RuntimeException When the factory definition is incomplete
+     * @throws RuntimeException When the service is a synthetic service
      * @throws InvalidArgumentException When configure callable is not callable
      */
     private function createService(Definition $definition, $id)
     {
+        if ($definition->isSynthetic()) {
+            throw new RuntimeException(sprintf('You have requested a synthetic service ("%s"). The DIC does not know how to construct this service.', $id));
+        }
+
         $parameterBag = $this->getParameterBag();
 
         if (null !== $definition->getFile()) {
             require_once $parameterBag->resolveValue($definition->getFile());
         }
 
-        $arguments = $this->resolveServices(
-            $parameterBag->unescapeValue($parameterBag->resolveValue($definition->getArguments()))
-        );
+        $arguments = $this->resolveServices($parameterBag->unescapeValue($parameterBag->resolveValue($definition->getArguments())));
 
         if (null !== $definition->getFactoryMethod()) {
             if (null !== $definition->getFactoryClass()) {
diff --git a/Tests/ContainerBuilderTest.php b/Tests/ContainerBuilderTest.php
index c9e6b0784..c2677d326 100644
--- a/Tests/ContainerBuilderTest.php
+++ b/Tests/ContainerBuilderTest.php
@@ -319,6 +319,17 @@ public function testCreateServiceConfigurator()
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @covers Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\ContainerBuilder::createService
+     * @expectedException \RuntimeException
+     */
+    public function testCreateSyntheticService()
+    {
+        $builder = new ContainerBuilder();
+        $builder->register('foo', 'FooClass')->setSynthetic(true);
+        $builder->get('foo');
+    }
+
     /**
      * @covers Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\ContainerBuilder::resolveServices
      */