Index: cp/parser.c
===================================================================
--- cp/parser.c	(revision 226075)
+++ cp/parser.c	(working copy)
@@ -11660,7 +11660,8 @@ cp_parser_simple_declaration (cp_parser* parser,
 	{
 	  /* If we have already issued an error message we don't need
 	     to issue another one.  */
-	  if (decl != error_mark_node
+	  if ((decl != error_mark_node
+	       && DECL_INITIAL (decl) != error_mark_node)
 	      || cp_parser_uncommitted_to_tentative_parse_p (parser))
 	    cp_parser_error (parser, "expected %<,%> or %<;%>");
 	  /* Skip tokens until we reach the end of the statement.  */
Index: testsuite/g++.dg/expr/string-2.C
===================================================================
--- testsuite/g++.dg/expr/string-2.C	(revision 226075)
+++ testsuite/g++.dg/expr/string-2.C	(working copy)
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 char a[1];
 
 int foo(a = "") // { dg-error "invalid array assignment" }
-{ // { dg-error "" }
+{
   return 0;
 }
 
Index: testsuite/g++.dg/parse/error57.C
===================================================================
--- testsuite/g++.dg/parse/error57.C	(revision 0)
+++ testsuite/g++.dg/parse/error57.C	(working copy)
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+// PR c++/52987
+
+int foo(x a) {  // { dg-error "9:'x' was not declared in this scope" }
+}