{
        struct parse_events_state *parse_state = _parse_state;
        struct list_head *list = NULL, *orig_terms = NULL, *terms= NULL;
-       struct parse_events_error *error = parse_state->error;
        char *pattern = NULL;
 
 #define CLEANUP                                                \
                free(pattern);                          \
        } while(0)
 
-       if (error)
-               error->idx = @1.first_column;
-
        if (parse_events_copy_term_list($2, &orig_terms)) {
                CLEANUP;
                YYNOMEM;
                        $2 = NULL;
                }
                if (!ok) {
+                       struct parse_events_error *error = parse_state->error;
+                       char *help;
+
+                       if (asprintf(&help, "Unabled to find PMU or event on a PMU of '%s'", $1) < 0)
+                               help = NULL;
+                       parse_events_error__handle(error, @1.first_column,
+                                                  strdup("Bad event or PMU"),
+                                                  help);
                        CLEANUP;
                        YYABORT;
                }
        int err;
 
        err = parse_events_multi_pmu_add(_parse_state, $1, NULL, &list);
-       free($1);
-       if (err < 0)
+       if (err < 0) {
+               struct parse_events_state *parse_state = _parse_state;
+               struct parse_events_error *error = parse_state->error;
+               char *help;
+
+               if (asprintf(&help, "Unabled to find PMU or event on a PMU of '%s'", $1) < 0)
+                       help = NULL;
+               parse_events_error__handle(error, @1.first_column, strdup("Bad event name"), help);
+               free($1);
                PE_ABORT(err);
+       }
+       free($1);
        $$ = list;
 }