diff --git a/autoload/ale/handlers/gcc.vim b/autoload/ale/handlers/gcc.vim
index 9ec7b11..4b53652 100644
--- a/autoload/ale/handlers/gcc.vim
+++ b/autoload/ale/handlers/gcc.vim
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ function! ale#handlers#gcc#HandleGCCFormat(buffer, lines) abort
 
         let l:item = {
         \   'lnum': str2nr(l:match[2]),
-        \   'type': l:match[4] is# 'error' ? 'E' : 'W',
+        \   'type': (l:match[4] is# 'error' || l:match[4] is# 'fatal error') ? 'E' : 'W',
         \   'text': s:RemoveUnicodeQuotes(l:match[5]),
         \}
 
diff --git a/test/handler/test_gcc_handler.vader b/test/handler/test_gcc_handler.vader
index 79f1789..678d3f4 100644
--- a/test/handler/test_gcc_handler.vader
+++ b/test/handler/test_gcc_handler.vader
@@ -148,3 +148,17 @@ Execute(The GCC handler should interpret - as being the current file):
   \ ale#handlers#gcc#HandleGCCFormat(347, [
   \ '-:6:12: error: Some error',
   \ ])
+
+Execute(The GCC handler should handle fatal error messages due to missing files):
+  AssertEqual
+  \ [
+  \   {
+  \     'lnum': 3,
+  \     'col': 12,
+  \     'type': 'E',
+  \     'text': 'foo.h: No such file or directory'
+  \   },
+  \ ],
+  \ ale#handlers#gcc#HandleGCCFormat(347, [
+  \ '<stdin>:3:12: fatal error: foo.h: No such file or directory',
+  \ ])