diff --git a/compiler/noirc_evaluator/src/errors.rs b/compiler/noirc_evaluator/src/errors.rs
index 0879056ad36..29e90f3a92f 100644
--- a/compiler/noirc_evaluator/src/errors.rs
+++ b/compiler/noirc_evaluator/src/errors.rs
@@ -23,8 +23,13 @@ pub enum RuntimeError {
     IndexOutOfBounds { index: usize, array_size: usize, call_stack: CallStack },
     #[error("Range constraint of {num_bits} bits is too large for the Field size")]
     InvalidRangeConstraint { num_bits: u32, call_stack: CallStack },
-    #[error("{value} does not fit within the type bounds for {typ}")]
-    IntegerOutOfBounds { value: FieldElement, typ: NumericType, call_stack: CallStack },
+    #[error("The value `{value:?}` cannot fit into `{typ}` which has range `{range}`")]
+    IntegerOutOfBounds {
+        value: FieldElement,
+        typ: NumericType,
+        range: String,
+        call_stack: CallStack,
+    },
     #[error("Expected array index to fit into a u64")]
     TypeConversion { from: String, into: String, call_stack: CallStack },
     #[error("{name:?} is not initialized")]
diff --git a/compiler/noirc_evaluator/src/ssa/ir/types.rs b/compiler/noirc_evaluator/src/ssa/ir/types.rs
index 0b0ccb7e1a4..56729a5cba9 100644
--- a/compiler/noirc_evaluator/src/ssa/ir/types.rs
+++ b/compiler/noirc_evaluator/src/ssa/ir/types.rs
@@ -29,23 +29,37 @@ impl NumericType {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Returns true if the given Field value is within the numeric limits
-    /// for the current NumericType.
-    pub(crate) fn value_is_within_limits(self, field: FieldElement, negative: bool) -> bool {
+    /// Returns None if the given Field value is within the numeric limits
+    /// for the current NumericType. Otherwise returns a string describing
+    /// the limits, as a range.
+    pub(crate) fn value_is_outside_limits(
+        self,
+        field: FieldElement,
+        negative: bool,
+    ) -> Option<String> {
         match self {
             NumericType::Unsigned { bit_size } => {
+                let max = 2u128.pow(bit_size) - 1;
                 if negative {
-                    return false;
+                    return Some(format!("0..={}", max));
+                }
+                if field <= max.into() {
+                    None
+                } else {
+                    Some(format!("0..={}", max))
                 }
-                let max = 2u128.pow(bit_size) - 1;
-                field <= max.into()
             }
             NumericType::Signed { bit_size } => {
-                let max =
-                    if negative { 2u128.pow(bit_size - 1) } else { 2u128.pow(bit_size - 1) - 1 };
-                field <= max.into()
+                let min = 2u128.pow(bit_size - 1);
+                let max = 2u128.pow(bit_size - 1) - 1;
+                let target_max = if negative { min } else { max };
+                if field <= target_max.into() {
+                    None
+                } else {
+                    Some(format!("-{}..={}", min, max))
+                }
             }
-            NumericType::NativeField => true,
+            NumericType::NativeField => None,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -224,21 +238,21 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
 
     #[test]
-    fn test_u8_is_within_limits() {
+    fn test_u8_value_is_outside_limits() {
         let u8 = NumericType::Unsigned { bit_size: 8 };
-        assert!(!u8.value_is_within_limits(FieldElement::from(1_i128), true));
-        assert!(u8.value_is_within_limits(FieldElement::from(0_i128), false));
-        assert!(u8.value_is_within_limits(FieldElement::from(255_i128), false));
-        assert!(!u8.value_is_within_limits(FieldElement::from(256_i128), false));
+        assert!(u8.value_is_outside_limits(FieldElement::from(1_i128), true).is_some());
+        assert!(u8.value_is_outside_limits(FieldElement::from(0_i128), false).is_none());
+        assert!(u8.value_is_outside_limits(FieldElement::from(255_i128), false).is_none());
+        assert!(u8.value_is_outside_limits(FieldElement::from(256_i128), false).is_some());
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn test_i8_is_within_limits() {
+    fn test_i8_value_is_outside_limits() {
         let i8 = NumericType::Signed { bit_size: 8 };
-        assert!(!i8.value_is_within_limits(FieldElement::from(129_i128), true));
-        assert!(i8.value_is_within_limits(FieldElement::from(128_i128), true));
-        assert!(i8.value_is_within_limits(FieldElement::from(0_i128), false));
-        assert!(i8.value_is_within_limits(FieldElement::from(127_i128), false));
-        assert!(!i8.value_is_within_limits(FieldElement::from(128_i128), false));
+        assert!(i8.value_is_outside_limits(FieldElement::from(129_i128), true).is_some());
+        assert!(i8.value_is_outside_limits(FieldElement::from(128_i128), true).is_none());
+        assert!(i8.value_is_outside_limits(FieldElement::from(0_i128), false).is_none());
+        assert!(i8.value_is_outside_limits(FieldElement::from(127_i128), false).is_none());
+        assert!(i8.value_is_outside_limits(FieldElement::from(128_i128), false).is_some());
     }
 }
diff --git a/compiler/noirc_evaluator/src/ssa/ssa_gen/context.rs b/compiler/noirc_evaluator/src/ssa/ssa_gen/context.rs
index fb79266768c..e013546f14a 100644
--- a/compiler/noirc_evaluator/src/ssa/ssa_gen/context.rs
+++ b/compiler/noirc_evaluator/src/ssa/ssa_gen/context.rs
@@ -272,11 +272,12 @@ impl<'a> FunctionContext<'a> {
         let value = value.into();
 
         if let Type::Numeric(numeric_type) = typ {
-            if !numeric_type.value_is_within_limits(value, negative) {
+            if let Some(range) = numeric_type.value_is_outside_limits(value, negative) {
                 let call_stack = self.builder.get_call_stack();
                 return Err(RuntimeError::IntegerOutOfBounds {
-                    value,
+                    value: if negative { -value } else { value },
                     typ: numeric_type,
+                    range,
                     call_stack,
                 });
             }
diff --git a/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/elaborator/lints.rs b/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/elaborator/lints.rs
index af6f4cdb42f..a4140043ac1 100644
--- a/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/elaborator/lints.rs
+++ b/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/elaborator/lints.rs
@@ -7,13 +7,12 @@ use crate::{
     },
     hir_def::expr::HirIdent,
     macros_api::{
-        HirExpression, HirLiteral, NodeInterner, NoirFunction, UnaryOp, UnresolvedTypeData,
-        Visibility,
+        HirExpression, HirLiteral, NodeInterner, NoirFunction, Signedness, UnaryOp,
+        UnresolvedTypeData, Visibility,
     },
     node_interner::{DefinitionKind, ExprId, FuncId},
     Type,
 };
-use acvm::AcirField;
 
 use noirc_errors::Span;
 
@@ -196,8 +195,8 @@ pub(super) fn unnecessary_pub_argument(
 }
 
 /// Check if an assignment is overflowing with respect to `annotated_type`
-/// in a declaration statement where `annotated_type` is an unsigned integer
-pub(crate) fn overflowing_uint(
+/// in a declaration statement where `annotated_type` is a signed or unsigned integer
+pub(crate) fn overflowing_int(
     interner: &NodeInterner,
     rhs_expr: &ExprId,
     annotated_type: &Type,
@@ -207,23 +206,36 @@ pub(crate) fn overflowing_uint(
 
     let mut errors = Vec::with_capacity(2);
     match expr {
-        HirExpression::Literal(HirLiteral::Integer(value, false)) => {
-            let v = value.to_u128();
-            if let Type::Integer(_, bit_count) = annotated_type {
+        HirExpression::Literal(HirLiteral::Integer(value, negative)) => match annotated_type {
+            Type::Integer(Signedness::Unsigned, bit_count) => {
                 let bit_count: u32 = (*bit_count).into();
-                let max = 1 << bit_count;
-                if v >= max {
+                let max = 2u128.pow(bit_count) - 1;
+                if value > max.into() || negative {
                     errors.push(TypeCheckError::OverflowingAssignment {
-                        expr: value,
+                        expr: if negative { -value } else { value },
                         ty: annotated_type.clone(),
-                        range: format!("0..={}", max - 1),
+                        range: format!("0..={}", max),
                         span,
                     });
-                };
-            };
-        }
+                }
+            }
+            Type::Integer(Signedness::Signed, bit_count) => {
+                let bit_count: u32 = (*bit_count).into();
+                let min = 2u128.pow(bit_count - 1);
+                let max = 2u128.pow(bit_count - 1) - 1;
+                if (negative && value > min.into()) || (!negative && value > max.into()) {
+                    errors.push(TypeCheckError::OverflowingAssignment {
+                        expr: if negative { -value } else { value },
+                        ty: annotated_type.clone(),
+                        range: format!("-{}..={}", min, max),
+                        span,
+                    });
+                }
+            }
+            _ => (),
+        },
         HirExpression::Prefix(expr) => {
-            overflowing_uint(interner, &expr.rhs, annotated_type);
+            overflowing_int(interner, &expr.rhs, annotated_type);
             if expr.operator == UnaryOp::Minus {
                 errors.push(TypeCheckError::InvalidUnaryOp {
                     kind: "annotated_type".to_string(),
@@ -232,8 +244,8 @@ pub(crate) fn overflowing_uint(
             }
         }
         HirExpression::Infix(expr) => {
-            errors.extend(overflowing_uint(interner, &expr.lhs, annotated_type));
-            errors.extend(overflowing_uint(interner, &expr.rhs, annotated_type));
+            errors.extend(overflowing_int(interner, &expr.lhs, annotated_type));
+            errors.extend(overflowing_int(interner, &expr.rhs, annotated_type));
         }
         _ => {}
     }
diff --git a/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/elaborator/statements.rs b/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/elaborator/statements.rs
index 8d97bd1a25d..6aed0ab196d 100644
--- a/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/elaborator/statements.rs
+++ b/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/elaborator/statements.rs
@@ -86,8 +86,8 @@ impl<'context> Elaborator<'context> {
                     expr_span,
                 }
             });
-            if annotated_type.is_unsigned() {
-                let errors = lints::overflowing_uint(self.interner, &expression, &annotated_type);
+            if annotated_type.is_integer() {
+                let errors = lints::overflowing_int(self.interner, &expression, &annotated_type);
                 for error in errors {
                     self.push_err(error);
                 }
diff --git a/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/hir/type_check/errors.rs b/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/hir/type_check/errors.rs
index 9c6a39d1940..e5c52213056 100644
--- a/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/hir/type_check/errors.rs
+++ b/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/hir/type_check/errors.rs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ pub enum Source {
 pub enum TypeCheckError {
     #[error("Operator {op:?} cannot be used in a {place:?}")]
     OpCannotBeUsed { op: HirBinaryOp, place: &'static str, span: Span },
-    #[error("The literal `{expr:?}` cannot fit into `{ty}` which has range `{range}`")]
+    #[error("The value `{expr:?}` cannot fit into `{ty}` which has range `{range}`")]
     OverflowingAssignment { expr: FieldElement, ty: Type, range: String, span: Span },
     #[error("Type {typ:?} cannot be used in a {place:?}")]
     TypeCannotBeUsed { typ: Type, place: &'static str, span: Span },
diff --git a/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/hir/type_check/stmt.rs b/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/hir/type_check/stmt.rs
index 3a570922c81..9abd1b34690 100644
--- a/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/hir/type_check/stmt.rs
+++ b/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/hir/type_check/stmt.rs
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ impl<'interner> TypeChecker<'interner> {
                     let max = 1 << bit_count;
                     if v >= max {
                         self.errors.push(TypeCheckError::OverflowingAssignment {
-                            expr: value,
+                            expr: -value,
                             ty: annotated_type.clone(),
                             range: format!("0..={}", max - 1),
                             span,
diff --git a/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/hir_def/types.rs b/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/hir_def/types.rs
index b529ca17887..6777c0d1c79 100644
--- a/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/hir_def/types.rs
+++ b/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/hir_def/types.rs
@@ -665,6 +665,10 @@ impl Type {
         matches!(self.follow_bindings(), Type::Bool)
     }
 
+    pub fn is_integer(&self) -> bool {
+        matches!(self.follow_bindings(), Type::Integer(_, _))
+    }
+
     pub fn is_signed(&self) -> bool {
         matches!(self.follow_bindings(), Type::Integer(Signedness::Signed, _))
     }
diff --git a/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/tests.rs b/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/tests.rs
index dbfa5222ca4..10183ae0ac9 100644
--- a/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/tests.rs
+++ b/compiler/noirc_frontend/src/tests.rs
@@ -1907,3 +1907,79 @@ fn comptime_let() {
     let errors = get_program_errors(src);
     assert_eq!(errors.len(), 0);
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn overflowing_u8() {
+    let src = r#"
+        fn main() {
+            let _: u8 = 256;
+        }"#;
+    let errors = get_program_errors(src);
+    assert_eq!(errors.len(), 1);
+
+    if let CompilationError::TypeError(error) = &errors[0].0 {
+        assert_eq!(
+            error.to_string(),
+            "The value `2⁸` cannot fit into `u8` which has range `0..=255`"
+        );
+    } else {
+        panic!("Expected OverflowingAssignment error, got {:?}", errors[0].0);
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn underflowing_u8() {
+    let src = r#"
+        fn main() {
+            let _: u8 = -1;
+        }"#;
+    let errors = get_program_errors(src);
+    assert_eq!(errors.len(), 1);
+
+    if let CompilationError::TypeError(error) = &errors[0].0 {
+        assert_eq!(
+            error.to_string(),
+            "The value `-1` cannot fit into `u8` which has range `0..=255`"
+        );
+    } else {
+        panic!("Expected OverflowingAssignment error, got {:?}", errors[0].0);
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn overflowing_i8() {
+    let src = r#"
+        fn main() {
+            let _: i8 = 128;
+        }"#;
+    let errors = get_program_errors(src);
+    assert_eq!(errors.len(), 1);
+
+    if let CompilationError::TypeError(error) = &errors[0].0 {
+        assert_eq!(
+            error.to_string(),
+            "The value `2⁷` cannot fit into `i8` which has range `-128..=127`"
+        );
+    } else {
+        panic!("Expected OverflowingAssignment error, got {:?}", errors[0].0);
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn underflowing_i8() {
+    let src = r#"
+        fn main() {
+            let _: i8 = -129;
+        }"#;
+    let errors = get_program_errors(src);
+    assert_eq!(errors.len(), 1);
+
+    if let CompilationError::TypeError(error) = &errors[0].0 {
+        assert_eq!(
+            error.to_string(),
+            "The value `-129` cannot fit into `i8` which has range `-128..=127`"
+        );
+    } else {
+        panic!("Expected OverflowingAssignment error, got {:?}", errors[0].0);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/cspell.json b/cspell.json
index b3a39108f24..2a9bfb4b544 100644
--- a/cspell.json
+++ b/cspell.json
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@
         "nomicfoundation",
         "noncanonical",
         "nouner",
+        "overflowing",
         "pedersen",
         "peekable",
         "petgraph",
diff --git a/test_programs/compile_failure/overflowing_assignment/Nargo.toml b/test_programs/compile_failure/overflowing_assignment/Nargo.toml
deleted file mode 100644
index 612e3e7aaf6..00000000000
--- a/test_programs/compile_failure/overflowing_assignment/Nargo.toml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-[package]
-name = "overflowing_assignment"
-type = "bin"
-authors = [""]
-[dependencies]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test_programs/compile_failure/overflowing_assignment/src/main.nr b/test_programs/compile_failure/overflowing_assignment/src/main.nr
deleted file mode 100644
index 6b529103ca3..00000000000
--- a/test_programs/compile_failure/overflowing_assignment/src/main.nr
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-fn main() {
-    let x:u8 = -1;
-    let y:u8 = 300;
-    assert(x != y);
-}