diff --git a/lodash.js b/lodash.js
index c564d7c37..2e5132e0d 100644
--- a/lodash.js
+++ b/lodash.js
@@ -4066,10 +4066,8 @@
     try {
       result = Function('_', 'return ' + text)(lodash);
     } catch(e) {
-      // defer syntax errors until the compiled template is executed to allow
-      // examining the `source` property beforehand and for consistency,
-      // because other template related errors occur at execution
-      result = function() { throw e; };
+      e.source = text;
+      throw e;
     }
 
     if (data) {
diff --git a/test/test.js b/test/test.js
index 21d78209e..d18b39a97 100644
--- a/test/test.js
+++ b/test/test.js
@@ -1410,13 +1410,13 @@
       deepEqual(options, {});
     });
 
-    test('should be debuggable if compiled with errors', function() {
-      var source = _.template('<% if x %>').source;
-      ok(source.indexOf('__p') > -1);
-    });
-
-    test('should raise an error if a template, compiled with errors, is executed', function() {
-      raises(_.template('<% if x %>'));
+    test('should provide the template source when a SyntaxError occurs', function() {
+      try {
+        _.template('<% if x %>');
+      } catch(e) {
+        var source = e.source;
+      }
+      ok((source + '').indexOf('__p') > -1);
     });
 
     test('should work with complex "interpolate" delimiters', function() {