diff --git a/py/compile.c b/py/compile.c
index 2c818a934..0d36aef8b 100644
--- a/py/compile.c
+++ b/py/compile.c
@@ -1028,16 +1028,13 @@ STATIC void compile_del_stmt(compiler_t *comp, mp_parse_node_struct_t *pns) {
 
 STATIC void compile_break_cont_stmt(compiler_t *comp, mp_parse_node_struct_t *pns) {
     uint16_t label;
-    const char *error_msg;
     if (MP_PARSE_NODE_STRUCT_KIND(pns) == PN_break_stmt) {
         label = comp->break_label;
-        error_msg = "'break' outside loop";
     } else {
         label = comp->continue_label;
-        error_msg = "'continue' outside loop";
     }
     if (label == INVALID_LABEL) {
-        compile_syntax_error(comp, (mp_parse_node_t)pns, error_msg);
+        compile_syntax_error(comp, (mp_parse_node_t)pns, "'break'/'continue' outside loop");
     }
     assert(comp->cur_except_level >= comp->break_continue_except_level);
     EMIT_ARG(unwind_jump, label, comp->cur_except_level - comp->break_continue_except_level);