diff --git a/src_c/surface.c b/src_c/surface.c
index ee9991fb..32c007bd 100644
--- a/src_c/surface.c
+++ b/src_c/surface.c
@@ -733,7 +733,8 @@ _raise_create_surface_error(void)
 {
     const char *msg = SDL_GetError();
 
-    if (strcmp(msg, "Unknown pixel format") == 0)
+    if (strcmp(msg, "Unknown pixel format") == 0 ||
+        strcmp(msg, "Parameter 'format' is invalid") == 0)
         return RAISE(PyExc_ValueError, "Invalid mask values");
     return RAISE(pgExc_SDLError, msg);
 }