diff --git a/src/utils.jl b/src/utils.jl
index 14852c3..5d7a690 100644
--- a/src/utils.jl
+++ b/src/utils.jl
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ all_params = [get(dict, :params, [])..., get(dict, :whereparams, [])...]
 ```
 """
 function splitdef(fdef)
-  error_msg = "Not a function definition: $fdef"
+  error_msg = "Not a function definition: $(repr(fdef))"
   @assert(@capture(longdef1(fdef),
                    function (fcall_ | fcall_) body_ end),
           "Not a function definition: $fdef")
@@ -303,7 +303,6 @@ function splitdef(fdef)
   di
 end
 
-
 """
     combinedef(dict::Dict)