diff --git a/core/object/script_language.cpp b/core/object/script_language.cpp
index cdc56e5ec51..0428caa80d0 100644
--- a/core/object/script_language.cpp
+++ b/core/object/script_language.cpp
@@ -704,6 +704,18 @@ bool PlaceHolderScriptInstance::has_method(const StringName &p_method) const {
 	return false;
 }
 
+Variant PlaceHolderScriptInstance::callp(const StringName &p_method, const Variant **p_args, int p_argcount, Callable::CallError &r_error) {
+	r_error.error = Callable::CallError::CALL_ERROR_INVALID_METHOD;
+#if TOOLS_ENABLED
+	if (Engine::get_singleton()->is_editor_hint()) {
+		return String("Attempt to call a method on a placeholder instance. Check if the script is in tool mode.");
+	} else {
+		return String("Attempt to call a method on a placeholder instance. Probably a bug, please report.");
+	}
+#endif
+	return Variant();
+}
+
 void PlaceHolderScriptInstance::update(const List<PropertyInfo> &p_properties, const HashMap<StringName, Variant> &p_values) {
 	HashSet<StringName> new_values;
 	for (const PropertyInfo &E : p_properties) {
diff --git a/core/object/script_language.h b/core/object/script_language.h
index 59a43a7b297..e38c344ae57 100644
--- a/core/object/script_language.h
+++ b/core/object/script_language.h
@@ -454,10 +454,7 @@ public:
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	virtual Variant callp(const StringName &p_method, const Variant **p_args, int p_argcount, Callable::CallError &r_error) override {
-		r_error.error = Callable::CallError::CALL_ERROR_INVALID_METHOD;
-		return Variant();
-	}
+	virtual Variant callp(const StringName &p_method, const Variant **p_args, int p_argcount, Callable::CallError &r_error) override;
 	virtual void notification(int p_notification, bool p_reversed = false) override {}
 
 	virtual Ref<Script> get_script() const override { return script; }
diff --git a/modules/gdscript/gdscript_function.h b/modules/gdscript/gdscript_function.h
index 759e92d68ce..ac4bab6d84e 100644
--- a/modules/gdscript/gdscript_function.h
+++ b/modules/gdscript/gdscript_function.h
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ private:
 	} profile;
 #endif
 
-	_FORCE_INLINE_ String _get_call_error(const Callable::CallError &p_err, const String &p_where, const Variant **argptrs) const;
+	_FORCE_INLINE_ String _get_call_error(const String &p_where, const Variant **p_argptrs, const Variant &p_ret, const Callable::CallError &p_err) const;
 	Variant _get_default_variant_for_data_type(const GDScriptDataType &p_data_type);
 
 public:
diff --git a/modules/gdscript/gdscript_vm.cpp b/modules/gdscript/gdscript_vm.cpp
index 5eab8a6306e..ddb0cf95029 100644
--- a/modules/gdscript/gdscript_vm.cpp
+++ b/modules/gdscript/gdscript_vm.cpp
@@ -134,38 +134,36 @@ Variant GDScriptFunction::_get_default_variant_for_data_type(const GDScriptDataT
 	return Variant();
 }
 
-String GDScriptFunction::_get_call_error(const Callable::CallError &p_err, const String &p_where, const Variant **argptrs) const {
-	String err_text;
-
-	if (p_err.error == Callable::CallError::CALL_ERROR_INVALID_ARGUMENT) {
-		int errorarg = p_err.argument;
-		ERR_FAIL_COND_V_MSG(errorarg < 0 || argptrs[errorarg] == nullptr, "GDScript bug (please report): Invalid CallError argument index or null pointer.", "Invalid CallError argument index or null pointer.");
-		// Handle the Object to Object case separately as we don't have further class details.
+String GDScriptFunction::_get_call_error(const String &p_where, const Variant **p_argptrs, const Variant &p_ret, const Callable::CallError &p_err) const {
+	switch (p_err.error) {
+		case Callable::CallError::CALL_OK:
+			return String();
+		case Callable::CallError::CALL_ERROR_INVALID_METHOD:
+			if (p_ret.get_type() == Variant::STRING && !p_ret.operator String().is_empty()) {
+				return "Invalid call " + p_where + ": " + p_ret.operator String();
+			}
+			return "Invalid call. Nonexistent " + p_where + ".";
+		case Callable::CallError::CALL_ERROR_INVALID_ARGUMENT:
+			ERR_FAIL_COND_V_MSG(p_err.argument < 0 || p_argptrs[p_err.argument] == nullptr, "Bug: Invalid CallError argument index or null pointer.", "Bug: Invalid CallError argument index or null pointer.");
+			// Handle the Object to Object case separately as we don't have further class details.
 #ifdef DEBUG_ENABLED
-		if (p_err.expected == Variant::OBJECT && argptrs[errorarg]->get_type() == p_err.expected) {
-			err_text = "Invalid type in " + p_where + ". The Object-derived class of argument " + itos(errorarg + 1) + " (" + _get_var_type(argptrs[errorarg]) + ") is not a subclass of the expected argument class.";
-		} else if (p_err.expected == Variant::ARRAY && argptrs[errorarg]->get_type() == p_err.expected) {
-			err_text = "Invalid type in " + p_where + ". The array of argument " + itos(errorarg + 1) + " (" + _get_var_type(argptrs[errorarg]) + ") does not have the same element type as the expected typed array argument.";
-		} else
+			if (p_err.expected == Variant::OBJECT && p_argptrs[p_err.argument]->get_type() == p_err.expected) {
+				return "Invalid type in " + p_where + ". The Object-derived class of argument " + itos(p_err.argument + 1) + " (" + _get_var_type(p_argptrs[p_err.argument]) + ") is not a subclass of the expected argument class.";
+			}
+			if (p_err.expected == Variant::ARRAY && p_argptrs[p_err.argument]->get_type() == p_err.expected) {
+				return "Invalid type in " + p_where + ". The array of argument " + itos(p_err.argument + 1) + " (" + _get_var_type(p_argptrs[p_err.argument]) + ") does not have the same element type as the expected typed array argument.";
+			}
 #endif // DEBUG_ENABLED
-		{
-			err_text = "Invalid type in " + p_where + ". Cannot convert argument " + itos(errorarg + 1) + " from " + Variant::get_type_name(argptrs[errorarg]->get_type()) + " to " + Variant::get_type_name(Variant::Type(p_err.expected)) + ".";
-		}
-	} else if (p_err.error == Callable::CallError::CALL_ERROR_TOO_MANY_ARGUMENTS) {
-		err_text = "Invalid call to " + p_where + ". Expected " + itos(p_err.expected) + " arguments.";
-	} else if (p_err.error == Callable::CallError::CALL_ERROR_TOO_FEW_ARGUMENTS) {
-		err_text = "Invalid call to " + p_where + ". Expected " + itos(p_err.expected) + " arguments.";
-	} else if (p_err.error == Callable::CallError::CALL_ERROR_INVALID_METHOD) {
-		err_text = "Invalid call. Nonexistent " + p_where + ".";
-	} else if (p_err.error == Callable::CallError::CALL_ERROR_INSTANCE_IS_NULL) {
-		err_text = "Attempt to call " + p_where + " on a null instance.";
-	} else if (p_err.error == Callable::CallError::CALL_ERROR_METHOD_NOT_CONST) {
-		err_text = "Attempt to call " + p_where + " on a const instance.";
-	} else {
-		err_text = "Bug, call error: #" + itos(p_err.error);
+			return "Invalid type in " + p_where + ". Cannot convert argument " + itos(p_err.argument + 1) + " from " + Variant::get_type_name(p_argptrs[p_err.argument]->get_type()) + " to " + Variant::get_type_name(Variant::Type(p_err.expected)) + ".";
+		case Callable::CallError::CALL_ERROR_TOO_MANY_ARGUMENTS:
+		case Callable::CallError::CALL_ERROR_TOO_FEW_ARGUMENTS:
+			return "Invalid call to " + p_where + ". Expected " + itos(p_err.expected) + " arguments.";
+		case Callable::CallError::CALL_ERROR_INSTANCE_IS_NULL:
+			return "Attempt to call " + p_where + " on a null instance.";
+		case Callable::CallError::CALL_ERROR_METHOD_NOT_CONST:
+			return "Attempt to call " + p_where + " on a const instance.";
 	}
-
-	return err_text;
+	return "Bug: Invalid call error code " + itos(p_err.error) + ".";
 }
 
 void (*type_init_function_table[])(Variant *) = {
@@ -1608,7 +1606,7 @@ Variant GDScriptFunction::call(GDScriptInstance *p_instance, const Variant **p_a
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_ENABLED
 				if (err.error != Callable::CallError::CALL_OK) {
-					err_text = _get_call_error(err, "'" + Variant::get_type_name(t) + "' constructor", (const Variant **)argptrs);
+					err_text = _get_call_error("'" + Variant::get_type_name(t) + "' constructor", (const Variant **)argptrs, *dst, err);
 					OPCODE_BREAK;
 				}
 #endif
@@ -1744,10 +1742,12 @@ Variant GDScriptFunction::call(GDScriptInstance *p_instance, const Variant **p_a
 				StringName base_class = base_obj ? base_obj->get_class_name() : StringName();
 #endif
 
+				Variant temp_ret;
 				Callable::CallError err;
 				if (call_ret) {
 					GET_INSTRUCTION_ARG(ret, argc + 1);
-					base->callp(*methodname, (const Variant **)argptrs, argc, *ret, err);
+					base->callp(*methodname, (const Variant **)argptrs, argc, temp_ret, err);
+					*ret = temp_ret;
 #ifdef DEBUG_ENABLED
 					if (ret->get_type() == Variant::NIL) {
 						if (base_type == Variant::OBJECT) {
@@ -1776,8 +1776,7 @@ Variant GDScriptFunction::call(GDScriptInstance *p_instance, const Variant **p_a
 					}
 #endif
 				} else {
-					Variant ret;
-					base->callp(*methodname, (const Variant **)argptrs, argc, ret, err);
+					base->callp(*methodname, (const Variant **)argptrs, argc, temp_ret, err);
 				}
 #ifdef DEBUG_ENABLED
 
@@ -1822,7 +1821,7 @@ Variant GDScriptFunction::call(GDScriptInstance *p_instance, const Variant **p_a
 							}
 						}
 					}
-					err_text = _get_call_error(err, "function '" + methodstr + (is_callable ? "" : "' in base '" + basestr) + "'", (const Variant **)argptrs);
+					err_text = _get_call_error("function '" + methodstr + (is_callable ? "" : "' in base '" + basestr) + "'", (const Variant **)argptrs, temp_ret, err);
 					OPCODE_BREAK;
 				}
 #endif
@@ -1868,12 +1867,14 @@ Variant GDScriptFunction::call(GDScriptInstance *p_instance, const Variant **p_a
 				}
 #endif
 
+				Variant temp_ret;
 				Callable::CallError err;
 				if (call_ret) {
 					GET_INSTRUCTION_ARG(ret, argc + 1);
-					*ret = method->call(base_obj, (const Variant **)argptrs, argc, err);
+					temp_ret = method->call(base_obj, (const Variant **)argptrs, argc, err);
+					*ret = temp_ret;
 				} else {
-					method->call(base_obj, (const Variant **)argptrs, argc, err);
+					temp_ret = method->call(base_obj, (const Variant **)argptrs, argc, err);
 				}
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_ENABLED
@@ -1906,7 +1907,7 @@ Variant GDScriptFunction::call(GDScriptInstance *p_instance, const Variant **p_a
 							}
 						}
 					}
-					err_text = _get_call_error(err, "function '" + methodstr + "' in base '" + basestr + "'", (const Variant **)argptrs);
+					err_text = _get_call_error("function '" + methodstr + "' in base '" + basestr + "'", (const Variant **)argptrs, temp_ret, err);
 					OPCODE_BREAK;
 				}
 #endif
@@ -1939,7 +1940,7 @@ Variant GDScriptFunction::call(GDScriptInstance *p_instance, const Variant **p_a
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_ENABLED
 				if (err.error != Callable::CallError::CALL_OK) {
-					err_text = _get_call_error(err, "static function '" + methodname->operator String() + "' in type '" + Variant::get_type_name(builtin_type) + "'", argptrs);
+					err_text = _get_call_error("static function '" + methodname->operator String() + "' in type '" + Variant::get_type_name(builtin_type) + "'", argptrs, *ret, err);
 					OPCODE_BREAK;
 				}
 #endif
@@ -1983,7 +1984,7 @@ Variant GDScriptFunction::call(GDScriptInstance *p_instance, const Variant **p_a
 #endif
 
 				if (err.error != Callable::CallError::CALL_OK) {
-					err_text = _get_call_error(err, "static function '" + method->get_name().operator String() + "' in type '" + method->get_instance_class().operator String() + "'", argptrs);
+					err_text = _get_call_error("static function '" + method->get_name().operator String() + "' in type '" + method->get_instance_class().operator String() + "'", argptrs, *ret, err);
 					OPCODE_BREAK;
 				}
 
@@ -2214,7 +2215,7 @@ Variant GDScriptFunction::call(GDScriptInstance *p_instance, const Variant **p_a
 						// Call provided error string.
 						err_text = vformat(R"*(Error calling utility function "%s()": %s)*", methodstr, *dst);
 					} else {
-						err_text = _get_call_error(err, vformat(R"*(utility function "%s()")*", methodstr), (const Variant **)argptrs);
+						err_text = _get_call_error(vformat(R"*(utility function "%s()")*", methodstr), (const Variant **)argptrs, *dst, err);
 					}
 					OPCODE_BREAK;
 				}
@@ -2271,7 +2272,7 @@ Variant GDScriptFunction::call(GDScriptInstance *p_instance, const Variant **p_a
 						// Call provided error string.
 						err_text = vformat(R"*(Error calling GDScript utility function "%s()": %s)*", methodstr, *dst);
 					} else {
-						err_text = _get_call_error(err, vformat(R"*(GDScript utility function "%s()")*", methodstr), (const Variant **)argptrs);
+						err_text = _get_call_error(vformat(R"*(GDScript utility function "%s()")*", methodstr), (const Variant **)argptrs, *dst, err);
 					}
 					OPCODE_BREAK;
 				}
@@ -2338,7 +2339,7 @@ Variant GDScriptFunction::call(GDScriptInstance *p_instance, const Variant **p_a
 
 				if (err.error != Callable::CallError::CALL_OK) {
 					String methodstr = *methodname;
-					err_text = _get_call_error(err, "function '" + methodstr + "'", (const Variant **)argptrs);
+					err_text = _get_call_error("function '" + methodstr + "'", (const Variant **)argptrs, *dst, err);
 
 					OPCODE_BREAK;
 				}