diff --git a/src/jinjarope/environment.py b/src/jinjarope/environment.py
index f91e557..a58689d 100644
--- a/src/jinjarope/environment.py
+++ b/src/jinjarope/environment.py
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 import weakref
 
 import jinja2
+
+from jinja2.exceptions import TemplateSyntaxError
 import jinja2.nodes
 
 import jinjarope
@@ -299,7 +301,11 @@ def render_string(
         """
         variables = (variables or {}) | kwargs
         cls = self.template_class
-        template = cls.from_code(self, self.compile(string), self.globals, None)
+        try:
+            template = cls.from_code(self, self.compile(string), self.globals, None)
+        except TemplateSyntaxError as e:
+            msg = f"Error when evaluating \n{string}\n (extra globals: {variables})"
+            raise SyntaxError(msg) from e
         return template.render(**variables)
 
     def render_file(