diff --git a/src/compiler/checker.ts b/src/compiler/checker.ts
index 08ed3c622e..5d840a5126 100644
--- a/src/compiler/checker.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/checker.ts
@@ -8903,6 +8903,7 @@ module ts {
                 case "number":
                 case "boolean":
                 case "string":
+                case "symbol":
                 case "void":
                     error(name, message, (<Identifier>name).text);
             }
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/symbolType20.errors.txt b/tests/baselines/reference/symbolType20.errors.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..41345e371f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/symbolType20.errors.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+tests/cases/conformance/es6/Symbols/symbolType20.ts(1,11): error TS2427: Interface name cannot be 'symbol'
+
+
+==== tests/cases/conformance/es6/Symbols/symbolType20.ts (1 errors) ====
+    interface symbol { }
+              ~~~~~~
+!!! error TS2427: Interface name cannot be 'symbol'
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/symbolType20.js b/tests/baselines/reference/symbolType20.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cf80d0d30a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/symbolType20.js
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+//// [symbolType20.ts]
+interface symbol { }
+
+//// [symbolType20.js]
diff --git a/tests/cases/conformance/es6/Symbols/symbolType20.ts b/tests/cases/conformance/es6/Symbols/symbolType20.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ef14e34048
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/conformance/es6/Symbols/symbolType20.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+//@target: ES6
+interface symbol { }
\ No newline at end of file