If you would, report this as a bug:
(%i1) f(x) := x$
(%i2) f(1,2);
Too many arguments supplied to f(x): [1,2]
(%i3) compile(f)$
(%i4) f(1,2);
Maxima encountered a Lisp error:
Error in MACSYMA-TOP-LEVEL [or a callee]: MACSYMA-TOP-LEVEL [or a callee]
requires less than two arguments.
The error message tells the user almost nothing. I consider that a bug.
Barton