diff --git a/cwObject.cpp b/cwObject.cpp
index 871766e..6285432 100644
--- a/cwObject.cpp
+++ b/cwObject.cpp
@@ -941,7 +941,8 @@ cw::rc_t cw::objectFromString( const char* s, object_t*& objRef )
 
   if( lexId == lex::kErrorLexTId )
   {
-      goto errLabel;    
+    rc = cwLogError(kSyntaxErrorRC,"A lexical element was not recognized.");
+    goto errLabel;    
   }
   
   // if the root has only one child then make the child the root