diff --git a/lib/get-text.js b/lib/get-text.js
index ca3900ec..cc16ed7b 100644
--- a/lib/get-text.js
+++ b/lib/get-text.js
@@ -187,7 +187,6 @@ export default class GetText {
         return result( [ 500, message ] );
     }
 
-    // XXX
     #parseCallExpression ( ast, node, { start } = {} ) {
         let method;
 
@@ -265,9 +264,12 @@ export default class GetText {
                 start,
             } );
 
-            // XXX singular must be template
-
-            // XXX must be trmplate
+            if ( !singular.isTemplate || !plural.isTemplate ) {
+                throw this.#error( `Plural message must be msgid tagged template`, {
+                    node,
+                    start,
+                } );
+            }
 
             extractedMessage.pluralId = plural.value;
         }