diff --git a/compiler/rustc_ast/src/token.rs b/compiler/rustc_ast/src/token.rs
index dd98946b4cc5e..bfc4db32d3751 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_ast/src/token.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_ast/src/token.rs
@@ -398,6 +398,30 @@ impl Token {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Returns `true` if the token can appear at the start of an pattern.
+    ///
+    /// Shamelessly borrowed from `can_begin_expr`, only used for diagnostics right now.
+    pub fn can_begin_pattern(&self) -> bool {
+        match self.uninterpolate().kind {
+            Ident(name, is_raw)              =>
+                ident_can_begin_expr(name, self.span, is_raw), // value name or keyword
+            | OpenDelim(Delimiter::Bracket | Delimiter::Parenthesis)  // tuple or array
+            | Literal(..)                        // literal
+            | BinOp(Minus)                       // unary minus
+            | BinOp(And)                         // reference
+            | AndAnd                             // double reference
+            // DotDotDot is no longer supported
+            | DotDot | DotDotDot | DotDotEq      // ranges
+            | Lt | BinOp(Shl)                    // associated path
+            | ModSep                    => true, // global path
+            Interpolated(ref nt) => matches!(**nt, NtLiteral(..) |
+                NtPat(..)     |
+                NtBlock(..)   |
+                NtPath(..)),
+            _ => false,
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Returns `true` if the token can appear at the start of a type.
     pub fn can_begin_type(&self) -> bool {
         match self.uninterpolate().kind {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_error_messages/locales/en-US/parser.ftl b/compiler/rustc_error_messages/locales/en-US/parser.ftl
index 3b37a393846b2..bc17754c56ae3 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_error_messages/locales/en-US/parser.ftl
+++ b/compiler/rustc_error_messages/locales/en-US/parser.ftl
@@ -150,3 +150,6 @@ parser_dotdotdot = unexpected token: `...`
 
 parser_left_arrow_operator = unexpected token: `<-`
     .suggestion = if you meant to write a comparison against a negative value, add a space in between `<` and `-`
+
+parser_remove_let = expected pattern, found `let`
+    .suggestion = remove the unnecessary `let` keyword
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_parse/src/parser/diagnostics.rs b/compiler/rustc_parse/src/parser/diagnostics.rs
index 9b5dd09372cc8..ad49227222b2c 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_parse/src/parser/diagnostics.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_parse/src/parser/diagnostics.rs
@@ -705,6 +705,14 @@ pub(crate) struct LeftArrowOperator {
     pub span: Span,
 }
 
+#[derive(SessionDiagnostic)]
+#[diag(parser::remove_let)]
+pub(crate) struct RemoveLet {
+    #[primary_span]
+    #[suggestion(applicability = "machine-applicable", code = "")]
+    pub span: Span,
+}
+
 // SnapshotParser is used to create a snapshot of the parser
 // without causing duplicate errors being emitted when the `Parser`
 // is dropped.
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_parse/src/parser/pat.rs b/compiler/rustc_parse/src/parser/pat.rs
index 88bd57d37cb65..120a3c267f106 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_parse/src/parser/pat.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_parse/src/parser/pat.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use super::{ForceCollect, Parser, PathStyle, TrailingToken};
+use crate::parser::diagnostics::RemoveLet;
 use crate::{maybe_recover_from_interpolated_ty_qpath, maybe_whole};
 use rustc_ast::mut_visit::{noop_visit_pat, MutVisitor};
 use rustc_ast::ptr::P;
@@ -320,7 +321,13 @@ impl<'a> Parser<'a> {
         maybe_recover_from_interpolated_ty_qpath!(self, true);
         maybe_whole!(self, NtPat, |x| x);
 
-        let lo = self.token.span;
+        let mut lo = self.token.span;
+
+        if self.token.is_keyword(kw::Let) && self.look_ahead(1, |tok| tok.can_begin_pattern()) {
+            self.bump();
+            self.sess.emit_err(RemoveLet { span: lo });
+            lo = self.token.span;
+        }
 
         let pat = if self.check(&token::BinOp(token::And)) || self.token.kind == token::AndAnd {
             self.parse_pat_deref(expected)?
diff --git a/src/test/ui/parser/unnecessary-let.rs b/src/test/ui/parser/unnecessary-let.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..6279109621d70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/ui/parser/unnecessary-let.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+fn main() {
+    for let x of [1, 2, 3] {}
+    //~^ ERROR expected pattern, found `let`
+    //~| ERROR missing `in` in `for` loop
+
+    match 1 {
+        let 1 => {}
+        //~^ ERROR expected pattern, found `let`
+        _ => {}
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/test/ui/parser/unnecessary-let.stderr b/src/test/ui/parser/unnecessary-let.stderr
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..952119cae3e27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/ui/parser/unnecessary-let.stderr
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+error: expected pattern, found `let`
+  --> $DIR/unnecessary-let.rs:2:9
+   |
+LL |     for let x of [1, 2, 3] {}
+   |         ^^^ help: remove the unnecessary `let` keyword
+
+error: missing `in` in `for` loop
+  --> $DIR/unnecessary-let.rs:2:15
+   |
+LL |     for let x of [1, 2, 3] {}
+   |               ^^ help: try using `in` here instead
+
+error: expected pattern, found `let`
+  --> $DIR/unnecessary-let.rs:7:9
+   |
+LL |         let 1 => {}
+   |         ^^^ help: remove the unnecessary `let` keyword
+
+error: aborting due to 3 previous errors
+