diff --git a/src/compiler/checker.ts b/src/compiler/checker.ts
index 7bd8dfae88b..789f2bd8104 100644
--- a/src/compiler/checker.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/checker.ts
@@ -13941,7 +13941,12 @@ namespace ts {
                     error(name, Diagnostics.Type_0_has_no_property_1_and_no_string_index_signature, typeToString(objectLiteralType), declarationNameToString(name));
                 }
             }
-            else if (property.kind !== SyntaxKind.SpreadAssignment) {
+            else if (property.kind === SyntaxKind.SpreadAssignment) {
+                if (property.expression.kind !== SyntaxKind.Identifier) {
+                    error(property.expression, Diagnostics.An_object_rest_element_must_be_an_identifier);
+                }
+            }
+            else {
                 error(property, Diagnostics.Property_assignment_expected);
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/compiler/diagnosticMessages.json b/src/compiler/diagnosticMessages.json
index 921c80eec08..ce5e59e509c 100644
--- a/src/compiler/diagnosticMessages.json
+++ b/src/compiler/diagnosticMessages.json
@@ -1991,6 +1991,10 @@
         "category": "Error",
         "code": 2700
     },
+    "An object rest element must be an identifier.": {
+        "category": "Error",
+        "code": 2701
+    },
 
     "Import declaration '{0}' is using private name '{1}'.": {
         "category": "Error",
diff --git a/src/compiler/transformers/destructuring.ts b/src/compiler/transformers/destructuring.ts
index bba09710898..a8c00776741 100644
--- a/src/compiler/transformers/destructuring.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/transformers/destructuring.ts
@@ -328,8 +328,9 @@ namespace ts {
                         bindingElements.push(p);
                     }
                 }
-                else if (i === properties.length - 1 && p.kind === SyntaxKind.SpreadAssignment) {
-                    Debug.assert((p as SpreadAssignment).expression.kind === SyntaxKind.Identifier);
+                else if (i === properties.length - 1 &&
+                         p.kind === SyntaxKind.SpreadAssignment &&
+                         p.expression.kind === SyntaxKind.Identifier) {
                     if (bindingElements.length) {
                         emitRestAssignment(bindingElements, value, location, target);
                         bindingElements = [];