diff --git a/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/parser/errors.rs b/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/parser/errors.rs
index bcb4ce1c616..899928528e6 100644
--- a/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/parser/errors.rs
+++ b/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/parser/errors.rs
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ pub enum ParserErrorReason {
     UnexpectedComma,
     #[error("Expected a `{token}` separating these two {items}")]
     ExpectedTokenSeparatingTwoItems { token: Token, items: &'static str },
+    #[error("Expected `mut` after `&`, found `{found}`")]
+    ExpectedMutAfterAmpersand { found: Token },
     #[error("Invalid left-hand side of assignment")]
     InvalidLeftHandSideOfAssignment,
     #[error("Expected trait, found {found}")]
@@ -265,6 +267,11 @@ impl<'a> From<&'a ParserError> for Diagnostic {
                     error.span,
                 ),
                 ParserErrorReason::Lexer(error) => error.into(),
+                ParserErrorReason::ExpectedMutAfterAmpersand { found } => Diagnostic::simple_error(
+                    format!("Expected `mut` after `&`, found `{found}`"),
+                    "Noir doesn't have immutable references, only mutable references".to_string(),
+                    error.span,
+                ),
                 other => Diagnostic::simple_error(format!("{other}"), String::new(), error.span),
             },
             None => {
diff --git a/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/parser/parser.rs b/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/parser/parser.rs
index f369839ddd4..c2f7b781873 100644
--- a/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/parser/parser.rs
+++ b/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/parser/parser.rs
@@ -498,6 +498,13 @@ impl<'a> Parser<'a> {
         self.push_error(ParserErrorReason::ExpectedTokenSeparatingTwoItems { token, items }, span);
     }
 
+    fn expected_mut_after_ampersand(&mut self) {
+        self.push_error(
+            ParserErrorReason::ExpectedMutAfterAmpersand { found: self.token.token().clone() },
+            self.current_token_span,
+        );
+    }
+
     fn modifiers_not_followed_by_an_item(&mut self, modifiers: Modifiers) {
         self.visibility_not_followed_by_an_item(modifiers);
         self.unconstrained_not_followed_by_an_item(modifiers);
diff --git a/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/parser/parser/types.rs b/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/parser/parser/types.rs
index be3d5287cab..0de94a89be5 100644
--- a/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/parser/parser/types.rs
+++ b/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/parser/parser/types.rs
@@ -341,7 +341,10 @@ impl<'a> Parser<'a> {
 
     fn parses_mutable_reference_type(&mut self) -> Option<UnresolvedTypeData> {
         if self.eat(Token::Ampersand) {
-            self.eat_keyword_or_error(Keyword::Mut);
+            if !self.eat_keyword(Keyword::Mut) {
+                self.expected_mut_after_ampersand();
+            }
+
             return Some(UnresolvedTypeData::MutableReference(Box::new(
                 self.parse_type_or_error(),
             )));