diff --git a/typechecker/en/modules/declarations.xml b/typechecker/en/modules/declarations.xml
index b5996fb83fd..d38e2ac0bfc 100644
--- a/typechecker/en/modules/declarations.xml
+++ b/typechecker/en/modules/declarations.xml
@@ -2662,7 +2662,8 @@ case (hexadecimal) {
             <para>A reference annotated <literal>late</literal> may not be initialized or 
             assigned a value by the class initializer. A parameter may not be annotated 
             <literal>late</literal>. A reference not belonging to a class may not be annotated 
-            <literal>late</literal>.</para>
+            <literal>late</literal>. A reference annotated <literal>formal</literal> or 
+            <literal>default</literal> may not be annotated <literal>late</literal>.</para>
             
             <para>If a class declares or inherits a <literal>variable</literal> reference, it 
             must (directly or indirectly) extend the class <literal>Basic</literal> defined in 
diff --git a/typechecker/src/com/redhat/ceylon/compiler/typechecker/analyzer/DeclarationVisitor.java b/typechecker/src/com/redhat/ceylon/compiler/typechecker/analyzer/DeclarationVisitor.java
index bfe54b66b1c..3a045454f18 100644
--- a/typechecker/src/com/redhat/ceylon/compiler/typechecker/analyzer/DeclarationVisitor.java
+++ b/typechecker/src/com/redhat/ceylon/compiler/typechecker/analyzer/DeclarationVisitor.java
@@ -1450,6 +1450,9 @@ public void visit(Tree.AttributeDeclaration that) {
             if (v.isFormal()) {
                 that.addError("formal attribute may not be annotated 'late'");
             }
+            else if (v.isDefault()) {
+                that.addError("default attribute may not be annotated 'late'");
+            }
             else if (!v.isClassOrInterfaceMember() && 
                     !v.isToplevel()) {
                 that.addError("block-local value may not be annotated 'late'");