diff --git a/src/librustc_passes/ast_validation.rs b/src/librustc_passes/ast_validation.rs
index 1866122454c..6708640379a 100644
--- a/src/librustc_passes/ast_validation.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_passes/ast_validation.rs
@@ -273,7 +273,9 @@ impl<'a> Visitor<'a> for AstValidator<'a> {
                     self.err_handler().span_err(item.span, "inherent impls cannot be negative");
                 }
                 if defaultness == Defaultness::Default {
-                    self.err_handler().span_err(item.span, "inherent impls cannot be default");
+                    self.err_handler()
+                        .struct_span_err(item.span, "inherent impls cannot be default")
+                        .note("only trait implementations may be annotated with default").emit();
                 }
             }
             ItemKind::ForeignMod(..) => {