diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 5170f35..cc2f9bc 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Changed
+- Improved `SyntaxError` handling in `lwp3 repl` command.
+
 ### Fixed
 - Fixed `PortID` exception when running `lwp3 repl` command.
 
diff --git a/pybricksdev/cli/lwp3/repl.py b/pybricksdev/cli/lwp3/repl.py
index 08a57d9..64f3e30 100644
--- a/pybricksdev/cli/lwp3/repl.py
+++ b/pybricksdev/cli/lwp3/repl.py
@@ -183,8 +183,15 @@ async def welcome():
                     msg = eval(result, _eval_pool)
                     if not isinstance(msg, AbstractMessage):
                         raise ValueError("not a message object")
+                except SyntaxError as ex:
+                    logger.error(
+                        "%s\n\n    %s\n   %s",
+                        ex.msg,
+                        ex.text,
+                        " " * ex.offset + "^" * (ex.end_offset - ex.offset),
+                    )
                 except Exception:
-                    logger.exception("bad input:")
+                    logger.exception("unexpected error:")
                 else:
                     logger.info("sending: %s", msg)
                     await client.write_gatt_char(