diff --git a/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs b/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs
index d464c63cee..5acd74976c 100644
--- a/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-parser/src/parser.rs
@@ -1761,7 +1761,11 @@ pub fn parse_numberlike_expr(
         SyntaxShape::CellPath => parse_simple_cell_path(working_set, span, expand_aliases_denylist),
         SyntaxShape::String => (
             garbage(span),
-            Some(ParseError::Expected("string".into(), span)),
+            Some(ParseError::Mismatch(
+                "string".into(),
+                "number-like value (hint: use quotes or backticks)".into(),
+                span,
+            )),
         ),
         SyntaxShape::Any => {
             if bytes == b"0b" {
diff --git a/tests/parsing/mod.rs b/tests/parsing/mod.rs
index d66ab04916..ad5fc0dc1c 100644
--- a/tests/parsing/mod.rs
+++ b/tests/parsing/mod.rs
@@ -226,3 +226,13 @@ fn parse_export_env_missing_block() {
 
     assert!(actual.err.contains("missing block"));
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn numberlike_command_name() {
+    let actual = nu!(cwd: "tests/parsing/samples",
+        r#"
+            def 7zup [] {}
+        "#);
+
+    assert!(actual.err.contains("backticks"));
+}