diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
index efa5a79f78..67af38050e 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
@@ -122,7 +122,11 @@ class VariableParse:
                 connector = self.d["_remote_data"]
                 return connector.expandPythonRef(self.varname, code, self.d)
 
-            codeobj = compile(code.strip(), self.varname or "<expansion>", "eval")
+            if self.varname:
+                varname = 'Var <%s>' % self.varname
+            else:
+                varname = '<expansion>'
+            codeobj = compile(code.strip(), varname, "eval")
 
             parser = bb.codeparser.PythonParser(self.varname, logger)
             parser.parse_python(code)