diff --git a/lib/bb/tests/parse.py b/lib/bb/tests/parse.py
index 410679d5a..e111747ec 100644
--- a/lib/bb/tests/parse.py
+++ b/lib/bb/tests/parse.py
@@ -126,6 +126,34 @@ EXTRA_OECONF:append = " c"
          d.setVar("OVERRIDES", "class-target")
          self.assertEqual(d.getVar("EXTRA_OECONF"), "b c d")
  
+    override_old_template = """
+EXTRA_OECONF{operation} = " c"
+"""
+
+    def test_parse_old_override_syntax(self):
+        for pattern in ['_append', '_prepend', '_remove']:
+            f = self.parsehelper(
+                self.override_old_template.format(operation=pattern))
+            try:
+                bb.parse.handle(f.name, self.d)['']
+                self.fail(
+                    'Pattern should have raised bb.BBHandledException for %s' % pattern)
+            except bb.BBHandledException:
+                pass
+
+    override_old_valid_template = """
+do{operation}something () {{
+   :
+}}
+addtask do{operation}something
+"""
+
+    def test_parse_old_override_syntax_no_warning(self):
+        for pattern in ['_append', '_prepend', '_remove']:
+            f = self.parsehelper(
+                self.override_old_valid_template.format(operation=pattern))
+            bb.parse.handle(f.name, self.d)['']
+
      overridetest3 = """
  DESCRIPTION = "A"
  DESCRIPTION:${PN}-dev = "${DESCRIPTION} B"