diff --git a/basis/alien/parser/parser.factor b/basis/alien/parser/parser.factor
index df1dd15bfb..8e050b3950 100644
--- a/basis/alien/parser/parser.factor
+++ b/basis/alien/parser/parser.factor
@@ -1,11 +1,20 @@
 ! Copyright (C) 2008, 2009 Slava Pestov.
 ! See http://factorcode.org/license.txt for BSD license.
 USING: alien alien.c-types arrays assocs effects grouping kernel
-parser sequences splitting words fry locals lexer namespaces ;
+parser sequences splitting words fry locals lexer namespaces
+summary ;
 IN: alien.parser
 
+ERROR: invalid-c-name name ;
+
+M: invalid-c-name summary
+    drop "The C pointer asterisk must be part of the type string." ;
+
+: check-c-name ( string -- string )
+    dup [ CHAR: * = ] any? [ invalid-c-name ] when ;
+
 : parse-arglist ( parameters return -- types effect )
-    [ 2 group unzip [ "," ?tail drop ] map ]
+    [ 2 group unzip [ "," ?tail drop check-c-name ] map ]
     [ [ { } ] [ 1array ] if-void ]
     bi* <effect> ;
 
@@ -13,7 +22,7 @@ IN: alien.parser
     '[ _ _ _ _ alien-invoke ] ;
 
 :: make-function ( return library function parameters -- word quot effect )
-    function create-in dup reset-generic
+    function check-c-name create-in dup reset-generic
     return library function
     parameters return parse-arglist [ function-quot ] dip ;