diff --git a/src/librustc_typeck/check/mod.rs b/src/librustc_typeck/check/mod.rs
index a95b3f4a973bb..fe6dbe96a96ea 100644
--- a/src/librustc_typeck/check/mod.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_typeck/check/mod.rs
@@ -4413,19 +4413,20 @@ impl<'a, 'gcx, 'tcx> FnCtxt<'a, 'gcx, 'tcx> {
         let lifetime_defs = segment.map_or(&[][..], |(_, generics)| &generics.regions);
         if lifetimes.len() > lifetime_defs.len() {
             let span = lifetimes[lifetime_defs.len()].span;
-            span_err!(self.tcx.sess, span, E0088,
-                      "too many lifetime parameters provided: \
-                       expected {}, found {}",
-                      count(lifetime_defs.len()),
-                      count(lifetimes.len()));
-        } else if lifetimes.len() > 0 && lifetimes.len() < lifetime_defs.len() {
-            span_err!(self.tcx.sess, span, E0090,
-                      "too few lifetime parameters provided: \
-                       expected {}, found {}",
-                      count(lifetime_defs.len()),
-                      count(lifetimes.len()));
+            struct_span_err!(self.tcx.sess, span, E0088,
+                             "too many lifetime parameters provided: \
+                              expected {}, found {}",
+                              count(lifetime_defs.len()),
+                              count(lifetimes.len()))
+                .span_label(span, &format!("unexpected lifetime parameter{}",
+                                           match lifetimes.len() { 1 => "", _ => "s" }))
+                .emit();
         }
 
+        // The case where there is not enough lifetime parameters is not checked,
+        // because this is not possible - a function never takes lifetime parameters.
+        // See discussion for Pull Request 36208.
+
         // Check provided type parameters.
         let type_defs = segment.map_or(&[][..], |(_, generics)| {
             if generics.parent.is_none() {
diff --git a/src/test/compile-fail/E0088.rs b/src/test/compile-fail/E0088.rs
index 0b235aa240c3c..9ec0960322410 100644
--- a/src/test/compile-fail/E0088.rs
+++ b/src/test/compile-fail/E0088.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,12 @@
 // except according to those terms.
 
 fn f() {}
+fn g<'a>() {}
 
 fn main() {
     f::<'static>(); //~ ERROR E0088
+    //~^ unexpected lifetime parameter
+
+    g::<'static, 'static>(); //~ ERROR E0088
+    //~^ unexpected lifetime parameters
 }