diff --git a/packages/driver/src/cypress/cy.coffee b/packages/driver/src/cypress/cy.coffee
index 4c549e924a9d..163780879f8b 100644
--- a/packages/driver/src/cypress/cy.coffee
+++ b/packages/driver/src/cypress/cy.coffee
@@ -458,10 +458,11 @@ create = (specWindow, Cypress, Cookies, state, config, log) ->
       ## if we have a prevSubject then error
       ## since we're invoking this improperly
       if prevSubject and ("optional" not in [].concat(prevSubject))
+        stringifiedArg = $utils.stringifyActual(args[0])
         $utils.throwErrByPath("miscellaneous.invoking_child_without_parent", {
           args: {
             cmd:  name
-            args: $utils.stringifyActual(args[0])
+            args: if _.isString(args[0]) then "\"#{stringifiedArg}\"" else stringifiedArg
           }
         })
 
diff --git a/packages/driver/test/cypress/integration/commands/aliasing_spec.coffee b/packages/driver/test/cypress/integration/commands/aliasing_spec.coffee
index 9866e05398fe..59a28cfe3806 100644
--- a/packages/driver/test/cypress/integration/commands/aliasing_spec.coffee
+++ b/packages/driver/test/cypress/integration/commands/aliasing_spec.coffee
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ describe "src/cy/commands/aliasing", ->
       it "throws as a parent command", (done) ->
         cy.on "fail", (err) ->
           expect(err.message).to.include("before running a parent command")
-          expect(err.message).to.include("cy.as(foo)")
+          expect(err.message).to.include("cy.as(\"foo\")")
           done()
 
         cy.as("foo")
diff --git a/packages/driver/test/cypress/integration/commands/connectors_spec.coffee b/packages/driver/test/cypress/integration/commands/connectors_spec.coffee
index 2b2b20beb113..c646987ce2f0 100644
--- a/packages/driver/test/cypress/integration/commands/connectors_spec.coffee
+++ b/packages/driver/test/cypress/integration/commands/connectors_spec.coffee
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ describe "src/cy/commands/connectors", ->
 
         it "throws without a subject", (done) ->
           cy.on "fail", (err) ->
-            expect(err.message).to.include("cy.invoke(queue)")
+            expect(err.message).to.include("cy.invoke(\"queue\")")
             expect(err.message).to.include("child command before running a parent command")
             done()
 
@@ -728,7 +728,7 @@ describe "src/cy/commands/connectors", ->
 
         it "throws without a subject", (done) ->
           cy.on "fail", (err) ->
-            expect(err.message).to.include("cy.its(wat)")
+            expect(err.message).to.include("cy.its(\"wat\")")
             expect(err.message).to.include("child command before running a parent command")
             done()
 
diff --git a/packages/driver/test/cypress/integration/cypress/cy_spec.coffee b/packages/driver/test/cypress/integration/cypress/cy_spec.coffee
index 5266969685d6..e4409b703d74 100644
--- a/packages/driver/test/cypress/integration/cypress/cy_spec.coffee
+++ b/packages/driver/test/cypress/integration/cypress/cy_spec.coffee
@@ -196,6 +196,15 @@ describe "driver/src/cypress/cy", ->
         cy.wrap("foo")
         cy.c()
 
+      it "fails when calling child command before parent with arguments", (done) ->
+        cy.on "fail", (err) ->
+          expect(err.message).to.include("Oops, it looks like you are trying to call a child command before running a parent command")
+          expect(err.message).to.include("cy.c(\"bar\")")
+          done()
+
+        cy.wrap("foo")
+        cy.c("bar")
+
       it "fails when previous subject becomes detached", (done) ->
         cy.$$("button:first").click ->
           $(@).remove()
@@ -322,4 +331,4 @@ describe "driver/src/cypress/cy", ->
 
     it "updates state('current') with modified args", ->
       cy.get("form").eq(0).submit().then =>
-        expect(cy.state("current").get("prev").get("args")[0].foo).to.equal("foo")
\ No newline at end of file
+        expect(cy.state("current").get("prev").get("args")[0].foo).to.equal("foo")