diff --git a/src/Init/LeanInit.lean b/src/Init/LeanInit.lean
index cdb8c968e6..c76f92ad11 100644
--- a/src/Init/LeanInit.lean
+++ b/src/Init/LeanInit.lean
@@ -223,12 +223,12 @@ def isOfKind : Syntax → SyntaxNodeKind → Bool
 def getArg (stx : Syntax) (i : Nat) : Syntax :=
 match stx with
 | Syntax.node _ args => args.get! i
-| _                  => arbitrary _
+| _                  => panic! "Syntax.getArg: not a node"
 
 def getArgs (stx : Syntax) : Array Syntax :=
 match stx with
 | Syntax.node _ args => args
-| _                  => #[]
+| _                  => panic! "Syntax.getArgs: not a node"
 
 /-- Retrieve the left-most leaf's info in the Syntax tree. -/
 partial def getHeadInfo : Syntax → Option SourceInfo