diff --git a/spec_helper.rb b/spec_helper.rb
index af1c38587..34bc068a5 100644
--- a/spec_helper.rb
+++ b/spec_helper.rb
@@ -36,3 +36,7 @@ def report_on_exception=(value)
   ARGV.unshift $0
   MSpecRun.main
 end
+
+def expect_syntax_error(ruby_src)
+  -> { eval(ruby_src) }.should raise_error(SyntaxError)
+end