diff --git a/src/org/rascalmpl/values/RascalFunctionValueFactory.java b/src/org/rascalmpl/values/RascalFunctionValueFactory.java
index 268d049479f..876be4d9794 100644
--- a/src/org/rascalmpl/values/RascalFunctionValueFactory.java
+++ b/src/org/rascalmpl/values/RascalFunctionValueFactory.java
@@ -544,8 +544,8 @@ private IString printSymbol(IConstructor symbol) {
         }
 
         protected IValue parse(String methodName, ISet filters, ISourceLocation input, ISourceLocation origin, boolean allowAmbiguity, boolean hasSideEffects) {
-            if (origin == null) {
-                origin = input;
+            if (origin != null && !origin.equals(input)) {
+                throw new IllegalArgumentException("input and origin should be equal: <input> != <origin>");
             }
             
             try {