diff --git a/toml/literal.hpp b/toml/literal.hpp
index d7194ed..0e61cc9 100644
--- a/toml/literal.hpp
+++ b/toml/literal.hpp
@@ -73,6 +73,9 @@ inline ::toml::value operator""_toml(const char* str, std::size_t len)
     if(auto data = ::toml::detail::parse_toml_file(loc))
     {
         loc.reset(loc.begin()); // rollback to the top of the literal
+        // skip needless characters for error message
+        skip_line::invoke(loc); // skip the first several needless lines
+        skip_ws::invoke(loc);   // skip the first several needless whitespaces
         return ::toml::value(std::move(data.unwrap()),
                 ::toml::detail::region<std::vector<char>>(std::move(loc)));
     }
diff --git a/toml/region.hpp b/toml/region.hpp
index 1720a7f..6ef6f9b 100644
--- a/toml/region.hpp
+++ b/toml/region.hpp
@@ -343,7 +343,8 @@ inline std::string format_underline(const std::string& message,
         {
             // invalid
             // ~~~~~~~
-            retval << make_string(reg->size(), '~');
+            const auto underline_len = std::min(reg->size(), reg->line().size());
+            retval << make_string(underline_len, '~');
         }
 
         retval << ' ';