diff --git a/crates/typst/src/eval/flow.rs b/crates/typst/src/eval/flow.rs
index 82b681923..d25d5472c 100644
--- a/crates/typst/src/eval/flow.rs
+++ b/crates/typst/src/eval/flow.rs
@@ -108,11 +108,11 @@ impl Eval for ast::ForLoop<'_> {
         let mut output = Value::None;
 
         macro_rules! iter {
-            (for $pat:ident in $iter:expr) => {{
+            (for $pat:ident in $iterable:expr) => {{
                 vm.scopes.enter();
 
                 #[allow(unused_parens)]
-                for value in $iter {
+                for value in $iterable {
                     destructure(vm, $pat, value.into_value())?;
 
                     let body = self.body();
@@ -134,29 +134,30 @@ impl Eval for ast::ForLoop<'_> {
             }};
         }
 
+        let pattern = self.pattern();
         let iterable = self.iterable().eval(vm)?;
         let iterable_type = iterable.ty();
-        let pattern = self.pattern();
 
-        match (&pattern, iterable) {
-            (ast::Pattern::Normal(_), Value::Str(string)) => {
-                // Iterate over graphemes of string.
-                iter!(for pattern in string.as_str().graphemes(true));
+        use ast::Pattern;
+        match (pattern, iterable) {
+            (_, Value::Array(array)) => {
+                // Iterate over values of array.
+                iter!(for pattern in array);
             }
             (_, Value::Dict(dict)) => {
                 // Iterate over pairs of dict.
                 iter!(for pattern in dict.pairs());
             }
-            (_, Value::Array(array)) => {
-                // Iterate over values of array.
-                iter!(for pattern in array);
+            (Pattern::Normal(_) | Pattern::Placeholder(_), Value::Str(str)) => {
+                // Iterate over graphemes of string.
+                iter!(for pattern in str.as_str().graphemes(true));
             }
-            (ast::Pattern::Normal(_), _) => {
+            (Pattern::Destructuring(_), Value::Str(_)) => {
+                bail!(pattern.span(), "cannot destructure values of {}", iterable_type);
+            }
+            _ => {
                 bail!(self.iterable().span(), "cannot loop over {}", iterable_type);
             }
-            (_, _) => {
-                bail!(pattern.span(), "cannot destructure values of {}", iterable_type)
-            }
         }
 
         if flow.is_some() {
diff --git a/tests/typ/bugs/3275-loop-errors.typ b/tests/typ/bugs/3275-loop-errors.typ
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0f05d6afe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/typ/bugs/3275-loop-errors.typ
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+// Issue #3275: clearer errors for loops, https://github.com/typst/typst/issues/3275
+// Ref: false
+
+---
+// Normal variable.
+#for x in (1, 2) {}
+#for x in (a: 1, b: 2) {}
+#for x in "foo" {}
+
+---
+// Placeholder.
+#for _ in (1, 2) {}
+#for _ in (a: 1, b: 2) {}
+#for _ in "foo" {}
+
+---
+// Destructuring.
+#for (k, v)  in (("a", 1), ("b", 2), ("c", 3)) {}
+#for (k, ..) in (("a", 1), ("b", 2), ("c", 3)) {}
+#for (k, v)  in (a: 1, b: 2, c: 3) {}
+#for (.., v) in (a: 1, b: 2, c: 3) {}
+
+---
+// Error: 11-17 cannot loop over content
+#for x in [1, 2] {}
+
+---
+// Error: 11-25 cannot loop over bytes
+#for _ in bytes((22, 0)) {}
+
+---
+// Error: 16-21 cannot loop over integer
+#for (x, y) in 12306 {}
+
+---
+// Error: 16-22 cannot loop over content
+#for (x, y) in [1, 2] {}
+
+---
+// Error: 6-12 cannot destructure values of string
+#for (x, y) in "foo" {}
+
+---
+// Error: 6-12 cannot destructure string
+#for (x, y) in ("foo", "bar") {}
+
+---
+// Error: 6-12 cannot destructure integer
+#for (x, y) in (1, 2) {}