diff --git a/core/combinators/combinators-tests.factor b/core/combinators/combinators-tests.factor
index 1a73e22e31..beb50f1162 100644
--- a/core/combinators/combinators-tests.factor
+++ b/core/combinators/combinators-tests.factor
@@ -323,4 +323,18 @@ DEFER: corner-case-1
 [ t ] [ \ corner-case-1 optimized>> ] unit-test
 [ 4 ] [ 2 corner-case-1 ] unit-test
 
-[ 4 ] [ 2 2 [ + ] curry 1array case ] unit-test
\ No newline at end of file
+[ 4 ] [ 2 2 [ + ] curry 1array case ] unit-test
+
+: test-case-8 ( n -- )
+    {
+        { 1 [ "foo" ] }
+    } case ;
+
+[ 3 test-case-8 ]
+[ object>> 3 = ] must-fail-with
+
+[
+    3 {
+        { 1 [ "foo" ] }
+    } case
+] [ object>> 3 = ] must-fail-with
diff --git a/core/combinators/combinators.factor b/core/combinators/combinators.factor
index e356a6d246..daf247d678 100755
--- a/core/combinators/combinators.factor
+++ b/core/combinators/combinators.factor
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ ERROR: no-cond ;
     reverse [ no-cond ] swap alist>quot ;
 
 ! case
-ERROR: no-case ;
+ERROR: no-case object ;
 
 : case-find ( obj assoc -- obj' )
     [
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ ERROR: no-case ;
     case-find {
         { [ dup array? ] [ nip second call ] }
         { [ dup callable? ] [ call ] }
-        { [ dup not ] [ no-case ] }
+        { [ dup not ] [ drop no-case ] }
     } cond ;
 
 : linear-case-quot ( default assoc -- quot )