diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/util/lib/util.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/util/lib/util.js
index 51bdbc0d6..261dc3867 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/util/lib/util.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/util/lib/util.js
@@ -306,6 +306,7 @@ function normalisePropertyExpression(str) {
  * @param  {Object} msg - the message object
  * @param  {String} expr - the property expression
  * @return {any} the message property, or undefined if it does not exist
+ * @throws Will throw an error if the *parent* of the property does not exist
  * @memberof @node-red/util_util
  */
 function getMessageProperty(msg,expr) {