diff --git a/ssz/src/bitfield.rs b/ssz/src/bitfield.rs
index ff34299..321c18b 100644
--- a/ssz/src/bitfield.rs
+++ b/ssz/src/bitfield.rs
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ impl<N: Unsigned + Clone> Bitfield<Variable<N>> {
             })
         } else {
             Err(Error::OutOfBounds {
-                i: Self::max_len(),
+                i: num_bits,
                 len: Self::max_len(),
             })
         }
@@ -1429,4 +1429,10 @@ mod bitlist {
         // Can't extend a BitList to a smaller BitList
         resized_bit_list.resize::<typenum::U16>().unwrap_err();
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn over_capacity_err() {
+        let e = BitList8::with_capacity(9).expect_err("over-sized bit list");
+        assert_eq!(e, Error::OutOfBounds{ i: 9, len: 8 });
+    }
 }