diff --git a/packages/playwright-test/src/testType.ts b/packages/playwright-test/src/testType.ts
index 0d8c918f99..649fd8fb0a 100644
--- a/packages/playwright-test/src/testType.ts
+++ b/packages/playwright-test/src/testType.ts
@@ -129,7 +129,9 @@ export class TestTypeImpl {
     }
 
     setCurrentlyLoadingFileSuite(child);
-    fn();
+    const result = fn();
+    if (result instanceof Promise)
+      throw errorWithLocation(location, 'describe cannot use async functions as callbacks');
     setCurrentlyLoadingFileSuite(suite);
   }
 
diff --git a/tests/playwright-test/runner.spec.ts b/tests/playwright-test/runner.spec.ts
index 3d01b77917..a7892de8dc 100644
--- a/tests/playwright-test/runner.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/playwright-test/runner.spec.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,17 @@ test('it should enforce unique test names based on the describe block name', asy
   expect(result.output).toContain(`  - tests${path.sep}example.spec.js:8`);
 });
 
+test('it should prohibit async functions in test.describe', async ({ runInlineTest }) => {
+  const result = await runInlineTest({
+    'tests/example.spec.js': `
+      const { test } = pwt;
+      test.describe('hello', async () => { test('my world', () => {}) });
+    `
+  });
+  expect(result.exitCode).toBe(1);
+  expect(result.output).toContain('describe cannot use async functions as callbacks');
+});
+
 test('it should not allow multiple tests with the same name in multiple files', async ({ runInlineTest }) => {
   const result = await runInlineTest({
     'tests/example1.spec.js': `