diff --git a/src/librustc_expand/expand.rs b/src/librustc_expand/expand.rs
index 8ed7bbf6e1276..84fe609ef9a09 100644
--- a/src/librustc_expand/expand.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_expand/expand.rs
@@ -503,13 +503,12 @@ impl<'a, 'b> MacroExpander<'a, 'b> {
     }
 
     fn error_derive_forbidden_on_non_adt(&self, derives: &[Path], item: &Annotatable) {
-        let attr =
-            attr::find_by_name(item.attrs(), sym::derive).expect("`derive` attribute should exist");
-        let span = attr.span;
+        let attr = attr::find_by_name(item.attrs(), sym::derive);
+        let span = attr.map_or(item.span(), |attr| attr.span);
         let mut err = self
             .cx
             .struct_span_err(span, "`derive` may only be applied to structs, enums and unions");
-        if let ast::AttrStyle::Inner = attr.style {
+        if let Some(ast::Attribute { style: ast::AttrStyle::Inner, .. }) = attr {
             let trait_list = derives.iter().map(|t| pprust::path_to_string(t)).collect::<Vec<_>>();
             let suggestion = format!("#[derive({})]", trait_list.join(", "));
             err.span_suggestion(
diff --git a/src/test/ui/malformed/issue-69341-malformed-derive-inert.rs b/src/test/ui/malformed/issue-69341-malformed-derive-inert.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..24692f7cf52e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/ui/malformed/issue-69341-malformed-derive-inert.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+fn main() {}
+
+struct CLI {
+    #[derive(parse())]
+    //~^ ERROR traits in `#[derive(...)]` don't accept arguments
+    //~| ERROR cannot find derive macro `parse` in this scope
+    //~| ERROR cannot find derive macro `parse` in this scope
+    path: (),
+    //~^ ERROR `derive` may only be applied to structs, enums and unions
+}
diff --git a/src/test/ui/malformed/issue-69341-malformed-derive-inert.stderr b/src/test/ui/malformed/issue-69341-malformed-derive-inert.stderr
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..e8f96178d10bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/ui/malformed/issue-69341-malformed-derive-inert.stderr
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+error: traits in `#[derive(...)]` don't accept arguments
+  --> $DIR/issue-69341-malformed-derive-inert.rs:4:19
+   |
+LL |     #[derive(parse())]
+   |                   ^^ help: remove the arguments
+
+error: `derive` may only be applied to structs, enums and unions
+  --> $DIR/issue-69341-malformed-derive-inert.rs:8:5
+   |
+LL |     path: (),
+   |     ^^^^^^^^
+
+error: cannot find derive macro `parse` in this scope
+  --> $DIR/issue-69341-malformed-derive-inert.rs:4:14
+   |
+LL |     #[derive(parse())]
+   |              ^^^^^
+
+error: cannot find derive macro `parse` in this scope
+  --> $DIR/issue-69341-malformed-derive-inert.rs:4:14
+   |
+LL |     #[derive(parse())]
+   |              ^^^^^
+
+error: aborting due to 4 previous errors
+