diff --git a/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/for.rktl b/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/for.rktl
index 33dceb1ebf..98eec00217 100644
--- a/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/for.rktl
+++ b/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/for.rktl
@@ -442,4 +442,7 @@
 (err/rt-test (begin (for/fold ([x 1] [y 2]) ([i (in-range 10)]) 1) 1) #rx".*expected number of values not received.*")
 (test 1 'one (begin (for/fold () () (values)) 1))
 
+;; for/fold syntax checking
+(syntax-test #'(for/fold () bad 1) #rx".*bad sequence binding clauses.*")
+
 (report-errs)
diff --git a/racket/collects/racket/private/for.rkt b/racket/collects/racket/private/for.rkt
index 15b4635001..c95664af1a 100644
--- a/racket/collects/racket/private/for.rkt
+++ b/racket/collects/racket/private/for.rkt
@@ -1325,6 +1325,9 @@
            (if d
                (syntax-property r 'disappeared-use d)
                r)))]
+      [(_ [orig-stx . _] for-bind clauses . _)
+       (not (syntax->list #'clauses))
+       (raise-syntax-error #f "bad sequence binding clauses" #'orig-stx #'clauses)]
       [(_ [orig-stx . _] . _)
        (raise-syntax-error #f "bad syntax" #'orig-stx)]))