diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/parser.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/parser.go
index 1d24b271e07..4eb4339a26c 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/parser.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/parser.go
@@ -307,6 +307,7 @@ func (p *parser) package_() {
 		mkpackage(p.sym().Name)
 		p.want(';')
 	} else {
+		prevlineno = lineno // see issue #13267
 		p.syntax_error("package statement must be first")
 		errorexit()
 	}