diff --git a/src/read.c b/src/read.c
index b34e3c2377..968c8d4805 100644
--- a/src/read.c
+++ b/src/read.c
@@ -2050,7 +2050,9 @@ static void ReadFor(ScannerState * s, TypSymbolSet follow)
     Match(s, S_FOR, "for", follow);
 
     /* <Var>                                                               */
-    ReadCallVarAss(s, follow, 'r');
+    volatile LHSRef ref = ReadVar(s, follow);
+    if (ref.type != R_INVALID)
+        EvalRef(ref, 1);
 
     /* 'in' <Expr>                                                         */
     Match(s, S_IN, "in", S_DO|S_OD|follow);
diff --git a/tst/testinstall/coder.tst b/tst/testinstall/coder.tst
index b9bf6a0f11..f223d8a9af 100644
--- a/tst/testinstall/coder.tst
+++ b/tst/testinstall/coder.tst
@@ -300,5 +300,41 @@ gap> function() Unbind(l![fail]); end();
 Error, PosObj Assignment: <position> must be a positive small integer (not the\
  value 'fail')
 
+#
+# weird corner cases in for loop index variables
+#
+gap> function() for + in [1,2,3] do od; end();
+Syntax error: Identifier expected in stream:1
+function() for + in [1,2,3] do od; end();
+               ^
+gap> function() local x; for x[1] in [1,2,3] do od; end();
+Syntax error: in expected in stream:1
+function() local x; for x[1] in [1,2,3] do od; end();
+                         ^
+gap> function() local x; for x{[1]} in [1,2,3] do od; end();
+Syntax error: in expected in stream:1
+function() local x; for x{[1]} in [1,2,3] do od; end();
+                         ^
+gap> function() for IsHPCGAP in [1,2,3] do od; end();
+Error, Variable: 'IsHPCGAP' is constant
+gap> function() for IsHPCGAP[1] in [1,2,3] do od; end();
+Syntax error: in expected in stream:1
+function() for IsHPCGAP[1] in [1,2,3] do od; end();
+                       ^
+gap> function() for IsHPCGAP{[1]} in [1,2,3] do od; end();
+Syntax error: in expected in stream:1
+function() for IsHPCGAP{[1]} in [1,2,3] do od; end();
+                       ^
+gap> function() for PrintObj in [1,2,3] do od; end();
+Error, Variable: 'PrintObj' is read only
+gap> function() for PrintObj[1] in [1,2,3] do od; end();
+Syntax error: in expected in stream:1
+function() for PrintObj[1] in [1,2,3] do od; end();
+                       ^
+gap> function() for PrintObj{[1]} in [1,2,3] do od; end();
+Syntax error: in expected in stream:1
+function() for PrintObj{[1]} in [1,2,3] do od; end();
+                       ^
+
 #
 gap> STOP_TEST("coder.tst", 1);
diff --git a/tst/testinstall/interpreter.tst b/tst/testinstall/interpreter.tst
index 9feee7aba8..4e327b36f4 100644
--- a/tst/testinstall/interpreter.tst
+++ b/tst/testinstall/interpreter.tst
@@ -252,6 +252,42 @@ gap> Unbind(l![fail]);
 Error, PosObj Assignment: <position> must be a positive small integer (not the\
  value 'fail')
 
+#
+# weird corner cases in for loop index variables
+#
+gap> for + in [1,2,3] do od;
+Syntax error: Identifier expected in stream:1
+for + in [1,2,3] do od;
+    ^
+gap> for x[1] in [1,2,3] do od;
+Syntax error: in expected in stream:1
+for x[1] in [1,2,3] do od;
+     ^
+gap> for x{[1]} in [1,2,3] do od;
+Syntax error: in expected in stream:1
+for x{[1]} in [1,2,3] do od;
+     ^
+gap> for IsHPCGAP in [1,2,3] do od;
+Error, Variable: 'IsHPCGAP' is constant
+gap> for IsHPCGAP[1] in [1,2,3] do od;
+Syntax error: in expected in stream:1
+for IsHPCGAP[1] in [1,2,3] do od;
+            ^
+gap> for IsHPCGAP{[1]} in [1,2,3] do od;
+Syntax error: in expected in stream:1
+for IsHPCGAP{[1]} in [1,2,3] do od;
+            ^
+gap> for PrintObj in [1,2,3] do od;
+Error, Variable: 'PrintObj' is read only
+gap> for PrintObj[1] in [1,2,3] do od;
+Syntax error: in expected in stream:1
+for PrintObj[1] in [1,2,3] do od;
+            ^
+gap> for PrintObj{[1]} in [1,2,3] do od;
+Syntax error: in expected in stream:1
+for PrintObj{[1]} in [1,2,3] do od;
+            ^
+
 #
 #
 gap> STOP_TEST("interpreter.tst", 1);