diff --git a/crates/typst-syntax/src/lexer.rs b/crates/typst-syntax/src/lexer.rs
index ecbf0ea66..d13fc5278 100644
--- a/crates/typst-syntax/src/lexer.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-syntax/src/lexer.rs
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ impl Lexer<'_> {
                     // After we finished specifying arguments, there must only
                     // be whitespaces until the line ends.
                     self.s.eat_until(char::is_whitespace);
-                    self.error("expected end of annotation")
+                    self.error("unexpected characters after end of annotation")
                 }
                 Some(c) if is_id_start(c) => {
                     self.s.eat_while(is_id_continue);
@@ -294,9 +294,32 @@ impl Lexer<'_> {
                     found_closing_paren = true;
                     SyntaxKind::RightParen
                 }
-                Some(c) => self.error(eco_format!(
-                    "the character '{c}' is not valid in an annotation"
-                )),
+                // Explicitly detect comments for more helpful errors
+                Some('/') if self.s.at(['/', '*']) => {
+                    if self.s.eat() == Some('*') {
+                        // Found a block comment. Advance until the next
+                        // newline or '*/' just for a more accurate error span.
+                        while !self.s.eat_if("*/") && !self.s.at(is_newline) {
+                            self.s.eat();
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        self.s.eat_until(is_newline);
+                    }
+                    self.error(eco_format!("unexpected comment inside annotation"))
+                }
+                Some(_) => {
+                    self.s.eat_until(|c: char| {
+                        c.is_whitespace() || has_opening_paren && c == ')'
+                    });
+                    self.error(eco_format!(
+                        "expected identifier{} in annotation",
+                        if has_opening_paren {
+                            ", string or closing paren"
+                        } else {
+                            " or string"
+                        }
+                    ))
+                }
                 None => break,
             };
 
@@ -308,7 +331,12 @@ impl Lexer<'_> {
 
         // Right parenthesis (covered above)
         if has_opening_paren && !found_closing_paren {
-            subtree.push(self.emit_error("expected closing paren", self.s.cursor()));
+            subtree.push(
+                self.emit_error(
+                    "expected closing paren after annotation",
+                    self.s.cursor(),
+                ),
+            );
         }
 
         SyntaxNode::inner(SyntaxKind::Annotation, subtree)
diff --git a/tests/suite/syntax/annotation.typ b/tests/suite/syntax/annotation.typ
index 930ef7e2d..8f5ae862d 100644
--- a/tests/suite/syntax/annotation.typ
+++ b/tests/suite/syntax/annotation.typ
@@ -21,28 +21,21 @@
 $
 
 --- annotation-comments ---
-// Error: 2:17-2:18 the character '/' is not valid in an annotation
-// Error: 2:18-2:19 the character '/' is not valid in an annotation
+// Error: 2:17-2:27 unexpected comment inside annotation
 
 // @allow "abc" // comment
 
-// Error: 2:17-2:18 the character '/' is not valid in an annotation
-// Error: 2:18-2:19 the character '*' is not valid in an annotation
-// Error: 2:28-2:29 the character '*' is not valid in an annotation
-// Error: 2:29-2:30 the character '/' is not valid in an annotation
+// Error: 2:17-2:30 unexpected comment inside annotation
 
 // @allow "abc" /* comment */
 
-// Error: 2:17-2:18 the character '/' is not valid in an annotation
-// Error: 2:18-2:19 the character '*' is not valid in an annotation
-// Error: 2:28-2:29 the character '*' is not valid in an annotation
-// Error: 2:29-2:30 the character '/' is not valid in an annotation
+// Error: 2:17-2:30 unexpected comment inside annotation
 
 // @allow "abc" /* comment */ "abc"
 
 --- annotation-strings ---
 
-// @allow("@some/thing-there123")
+// @allow "@some/thing-there123"
 
 --- unknown-annotation ---
 // Error: 2:5-2:13 invalid annotation name
@@ -51,11 +44,11 @@ $
 // @whatever A
 
 --- invalid-annotation-syntax ---
-// Error: 2:11-2:12 the character '*' is not valid in an annotation
+// Error: 2:11-2:12 expected identifier or string in annotation
 
 // @allow *
 
-// Error: 2:11-2:12 the character '5' is not valid in an annotation
+// Error: 2:11-2:12 expected identifier or string in annotation
 
 // @allow 5
 
@@ -63,21 +56,20 @@ $
 
 // @555!**INVALID!
 
-// Error: 2:10-2:11 the character ')' is not valid in an annotation
-// Error: 2:11-2:13 unclosed string
+// Error: 2:10-2:13 expected identifier or string in annotation
 
 // @allow)")
 
 // Error: 2:11-2:15 unclosed string
-// Error: 2:15 expected closing paren
+// Error: 2:15 expected closing paren after annotation
 
 // @allow("abc
 
-// Error: 2:16-2:19 expected end of annotation
+// Error: 2:16-2:19 unexpected characters after end of annotation
 
 // @allow(abc) abc
 
-// Error: 2:18-2:19 the character ',' is not valid in an annotation
+// Error: 2:18-2:19 expected identifier, string or closing paren in annotation
 
 // @allow(abc abc, "abc")
 
@@ -97,11 +89,7 @@ $
 // @allow "aaaaa\"
 
 --- invalid-annotation-in-annotation ---
-// Error: 2:17-2:18 the character '/' is not valid in an annotation
-// Error: 2:18-2:19 the character '/' is not valid in an annotation
-// Error: 2:20-2:21 the character '@' is not valid in an annotation
-// Error: 2:26-2:27 the character '(' is not valid in an annotation
-// Error: 2:32-2:33 the character ')' is not valid in an annotation
+// Error: 2:17-2:33 unexpected comment inside annotation
 
 // @allow "aaa" // @allow("bbb")