diff --git a/compiler/utils/msgdif.pp b/compiler/utils/msgdif.pp
index 47be800827..4b49775bfb 100644
--- a/compiler/utils/msgdif.pp
+++ b/compiler/utils/msgdif.pp
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ function MsgToSet(const Msg, FileName: string; var R: TArgSet): Boolean;
       begin
         j:=i+1; l:=length(msg)+1;
         while (j<l) and (Msg[j] in ['0'..'9']) do Inc(j);
-        if j = l then
+        if j > (i+1) then
         begin
           val(copy(Msg,i+1,j-i-1),num,code);
           if num > high(TArgSet) then begin