diff --git a/src/resolver/resolver.cc b/src/resolver/resolver.cc
index b980b965e3..264b41be1c 100644
--- a/src/resolver/resolver.cc
+++ b/src/resolver/resolver.cc
@@ -979,8 +979,8 @@ bool Resolver::ValidateGlobalVariable(const VariableInfo* info) {
   if (info->storage_class != ast::StorageClass::kStorage &&
       info->declaration->declared_access() != ast::Access::kUndefined) {
     AddError(
-        "variables declared not declared in the <storage> storage class must "
-        "not declare an access control",
+        "variables not in <storage> storage class must not declare an access "
+        "mode",
         info->declaration->source());
     return false;
   }
diff --git a/src/resolver/storage_class_validation_test.cc b/src/resolver/storage_class_validation_test.cc
index 2d75c1f581..89fa428cb8 100644
--- a/src/resolver/storage_class_validation_test.cc
+++ b/src/resolver/storage_class_validation_test.cc
@@ -99,6 +99,18 @@ TEST_F(ResolverStorageClassValidationTest, StorageBufferBoolAlias) {
       R"(56:78 error: variables declared in the <storage> storage class must be of a structure type)");
 }
 
+TEST_F(ResolverStorageClassValidationTest, NotStorage_AccessMode) {
+  // var<private, read> g : a;
+  Global(Source{{56, 78}}, "g", ty.i32(), ast::StorageClass::kPrivate,
+         ast::Access::kRead);
+
+  ASSERT_FALSE(r()->Resolve());
+
+  EXPECT_EQ(
+      r()->error(),
+      R"(56:78 error: variables not in <storage> storage class must not declare an access mode)");
+}
+
 TEST_F(ResolverStorageClassValidationTest, StorageBufferNoBlockDecoration) {
   // struct S { x : i32 };
   // var<storage, read> g : S;