diff --git a/sphinx_js/directives.py b/sphinx_js/directives.py
index c5c9a58..77147d8 100644
--- a/sphinx_js/directives.py
+++ b/sphinx_js/directives.py
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 from docutils.parsers.rst import Directive
 from docutils.parsers.rst import Parser as RstParser
 from docutils.parsers.rst.directives import flag
-from docutils.utils import new_document
 from sphinx import addnodes
 from sphinx.addnodes import desc_signature
 from sphinx.application import Sphinx
@@ -44,6 +43,7 @@
     AutoModuleRenderer,
     AutoSummaryRenderer,
     Renderer,
+    new_document_from_parent,
 )
 
 
@@ -81,8 +81,15 @@ def sphinx_js_type_role(  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
     result in <span class="sphinx_js-type"> </span>
     """
     unescaped = unescape(text)
-    doc = new_document("", inliner.document.settings)
-    RstParser().parse(unescaped, doc)
+    parent_doc = inliner.document
+    source = parent_doc.get("source", "")
+    # Get line number stored by new_document_from_parent in rst_nodes if we can
+    # find it, otherwise use lineno of directive.
+    line = getattr(parent_doc, "sphinx_js_source_line", None) or lineno
+    doc = new_document_from_parent(source, parent_doc)
+    # Prepend newlines so errors report correct line number
+    padded = "\n" * (line - 1) + unescaped
+    RstParser().parse(padded, doc)
     n = nodes.inline(text)
     n["classes"].append("sphinx_js-type")
     n += doc.children[0].children
diff --git a/sphinx_js/renderers.py b/sphinx_js/renderers.py
index 92eabd2..3ef42e0 100644
--- a/sphinx_js/renderers.py
+++ b/sphinx_js/renderers.py
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 from docutils.parsers.rst import Directive
 from docutils.parsers.rst import Parser as RstParser
 from docutils.statemachine import StringList
-from docutils.utils import new_document
 from jinja2 import Environment, PackageLoader
 from sphinx import addnodes
 from sphinx import version_info as sphinx_version_info
@@ -52,6 +51,19 @@
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+def new_document_from_parent(
+    source_path: str, parent_doc: nodes.document, line: int | None = None
+) -> nodes.document:
+    """Create a new document that inherits the parent's settings and reporter."""
+    settings = parent_doc.settings
+    reporter = parent_doc.reporter
+    doc = nodes.document(settings, reporter, source=source_path)
+    doc.note_source(source_path, -1)
+    # Store line number for sphinx_js_type_role to use
+    doc.sphinx_js_source_line = line  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+    return doc
+
+
 def sort_attributes_first_then_by_path(obj: TopLevel) -> Any:
     """Return a sort key for IR objects."""
     match obj:
@@ -325,13 +337,12 @@ def rst_nodes(self) -> list[Node]:
         )
 
         # Parse the RST into docutils nodes with a fresh doc, and return
-        # them.
-        #
-        # Not sure if passing the settings from the "real" doc is the right
-        # thing to do here:
-        doc = new_document(
-            f"{obj.filename}:{obj.path}({obj.line})",
-            settings=self._directive.state.document.settings,
+        # them. Use the directive's source location for error messages.
+        source, line = self._directive.state_machine.get_source_and_line(
+            self._directive.lineno
+        )
+        doc = new_document_from_parent(
+            source or "", self._directive.state.document, line
         )
         RstParser().parse(rst, doc)
         return doc.children
diff --git a/tests/test_build_xref_none/source/docs/conf.py b/tests/test_build_xref_none/source/docs/conf.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c849a6f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_build_xref_none/source/docs/conf.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+extensions = ["sphinx_js"]
+
+js_language = "typescript"
+js_source_path = ["../main.ts"]
+root_for_relative_js_paths = "../"
+
+suppress_warnings = ["config.cache"]
+
+
+def ts_type_xref_formatter(config, xref):
+    """Always return an invalid :js:None: role to test error propagation."""
+    return f":js:None:`{xref.name}`"
diff --git a/tests/test_build_xref_none/source/docs/index.rst b/tests/test_build_xref_none/source/docs/index.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..06dad96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_build_xref_none/source/docs/index.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+An extra line so we can test whether the error points to the right line.
+Another extra line.
+
+.. js:autoattribute:: thing
diff --git a/tests/test_build_xref_none/source/main.ts b/tests/test_build_xref_none/source/main.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5a659f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_build_xref_none/source/main.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+/** A simple variable to document. */
+export let thing: number;
diff --git a/tests/test_build_xref_none/test_build_xref_none.py b/tests/test_build_xref_none/test_build_xref_none.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0b227e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_build_xref_none/test_build_xref_none.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+"""
+RST errors from ts_type_xref_formatter should cause build failures.
+
+The test conf.py uses a formatter that always returns :js:None:`...`, which is
+an invalid RST role. This should cause the build to fail.
+
+We also test that the error message points to the right location.
+"""
+
+import io
+from contextlib import redirect_stderr
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from sphinx.cmd.build import main as sphinx_main
+
+
+def test_build_fails_with_invalid_role(tmp_path: Path):
+    """Build must fail when ts_type_xref_formatter emits an invalid RST role."""
+    docs_dir = str(Path(__file__).parent / "source" / "docs")
+    stderr = io.StringIO()
+    with redirect_stderr(stderr):
+        result = sphinx_main([docs_dir, "-b", "text", "-W", "-E", str(tmp_path)])
+    output = stderr.getvalue()
+    assert result != 0, "Expected build failure due to invalid :js:None: role"
+    assert "index.rst:4" in output, f"Expected error at index.rst:4, got: {output}"