diff --git a/bin/run.moon b/bin/run.moon
index f593b26..9af0529 100755
--- a/bin/run.moon
+++ b/bin/run.moon
@@ -68,11 +68,25 @@ run_tests = (slug, dir) ->
   data = json.decode json_output
 
   if not data
+    output = json_output
+
+    if output\match "^Failed to encode test results to json"
+      -- This is a syntax error: moon can't compile it.
+      -- Busted cannot output JSON results.
+      -- Grab the output from vanilla busted.
+      fh = io.popen 'busted', 'r'
+      output = fh\read 'a'
+      fh\close!
+      -- trim off some non-determinant output
+      output = output\gsub " : [%d.]+ seconds", ""
+      output = output\gsub "(%s)/[%w./-]-/(base.lua)", "%1%2"
+
     return {
       status: 'error',
-      message: json_output
+      message: output
     }
 
+
   if exit_status != 0 and #data.successes == 0 and #data.failures == 0 and #data.errors > 0
     return {
       status: 'error',
diff --git a/tests/example-syntax-error/expected_results.json b/tests/example-syntax-error/expected_results.json
index be52766..c9600d1 100644
--- a/tests/example-syntax-error/expected_results.json
+++ b/tests/example-syntax-error/expected_results.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{"tests":[],"version":2,"message":"Failed to encode test results to json: type 'function' is not supported by JSON.\n","status":"error"}
+{"message":"*\n0 successes / 0 failures / 1 error / 0 pending\n\nError -> base.lua @ 3\nsuite ./example_syntax_error_spec.moon\nbase.lua:81: ./example_syntax_error.moon: Failed to parse:\n [1] >>    leap_year =\n","version":2,"status":"error","tests":[]}
diff --git a/tests/failed-to-parse/.busted b/tests/failed-to-parse/.busted
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..86b84e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/failed-to-parse/.busted
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+return {
+  default = {
+    ROOT = { '.' }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/tests/failed-to-parse/expected_results.json b/tests/failed-to-parse/expected_results.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d73d52c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/failed-to-parse/expected_results.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{"tests":[],"status":"error","message":"*\n0 successes / 0 failures / 1 error / 0 pending\n\nError -> base.lua @ 3\nsuite ./failed_to_parse_spec.moon\nbase.lua:81: ./failed_to_parse.moon: Failed to parse:\n [2] >>    (year % 4 == 0) && (year % 100 != 0 || year % 400 == 0)\n","version":2}
diff --git a/tests/failed-to-parse/failed_to_parse.moon b/tests/failed-to-parse/failed_to_parse.moon
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..390b190
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/failed-to-parse/failed_to_parse.moon
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+leap_year = (year) ->
+  (year % 4 == 0) && (year % 100 != 0 || year % 400 == 0)
+
+return leap_year
diff --git a/tests/failed-to-parse/failed_to_parse_spec.moon b/tests/failed-to-parse/failed_to_parse_spec.moon
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ce2c5e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/failed-to-parse/failed_to_parse_spec.moon
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+is_leap_year = require 'failed_to_parse'
+
+describe 'leap', ->
+  it 'year not divisible by 4 in common year', ->
+    assert.is_false is_leap_year 2015
+
+  it 'year divisible by 2, not divisible by 4 in common year', ->
+    assert.is_false is_leap_year 1970
+
+  it 'year divisible by 4, not divisible by 100 in leap year', ->
+    assert.is_true is_leap_year 1996
+
+  it 'year divisible by 4 and 5 is still a leap year', ->
+    assert.is_true is_leap_year 1960
+
+  it 'year divisible by 100, not divisible by 400 in common year', ->
+    assert.is_false is_leap_year 2100
+
+  it 'year divisible by 100 but not by 3 is still not a leap year', ->
+    assert.is_false is_leap_year 1900
+
+  it 'year divisible by 400 is leap year', ->
+    assert.is_true is_leap_year 2000
+
+  it 'year divisible by 400 but not by 125 is still a leap year', ->
+    assert.is_true is_leap_year 2400
+
+  it 'year divisible by 200, not divisible by 400 in common year', ->
+    assert.is_false is_leap_year 1800