diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/config/Feature.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/config/Feature.scala
index f2ed58a5c8ca..448473a57885 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/config/Feature.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/config/Feature.scala
@@ -135,26 +135,25 @@ object Feature:
     if !isExperimentalEnabled then
       report.error(
         em"""Experimental $which may only be used under experimental mode:
-            |  1. In a definition marked as @experimental
-            |  2. Compiling with the -experimental compiler flag
-            |  3. With a nightly or snapshot version of the compiler$note
+            |  1. in a definition marked as @experimental, or
+            |  2. compiling with the -experimental compiler flag, or
+            |  3. with a nightly or snapshot version of the compiler.$note
           """, srcPos)
 
   private def ccException(sym: Symbol)(using Context): Boolean =
     ccEnabled && defn.ccExperimental.contains(sym)
 
   def checkExperimentalDef(sym: Symbol, srcPos: SrcPos)(using Context) =
-    if !isExperimentalEnabled then
-      val experimentalSym =
-        if sym.hasAnnotation(defn.ExperimentalAnnot) then sym
-        else if sym.owner.hasAnnotation(defn.ExperimentalAnnot) then sym.owner
-        else NoSymbol
-      if !ccException(experimentalSym) then
-        val symMsg =
-          if experimentalSym.exists
-          then i"$experimentalSym is marked @experimental"
-          else i"$sym inherits @experimental"
-        report.error(em"$symMsg and therefore may only be used in an experimental scope.", srcPos)
+    val experimentalSym =
+      if sym.hasAnnotation(defn.ExperimentalAnnot) then sym
+      else if sym.owner.hasAnnotation(defn.ExperimentalAnnot) then sym.owner
+      else NoSymbol
+    if !ccException(experimentalSym) then
+      val note =
+        if experimentalSym.exists
+        then i"$experimentalSym is marked @experimental"
+        else i"$sym inherits @experimental"
+      checkExperimentalFeature("definition", srcPos, s"\n\n$note")
 
   /** Check that experimental compiler options are only set for snapshot or nightly compiler versions. */
   def checkExperimentalSettings(using Context): Unit =
diff --git a/tests/neg/use-experimental-def.check b/tests/neg/use-experimental-def.check
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..66c4a7a305b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/neg/use-experimental-def.check
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+-- Error: tests/neg/use-experimental-def.scala:7:15 --------------------------------------------------------------------
+7 |def bar: Int = foo // error
+  |               ^^^
+  |               Experimental definition may only be used under experimental mode:
+  |                 1. in a definition marked as @experimental, or
+  |                 2. compiling with the -experimental compiler flag, or
+  |                 3. with a nightly or snapshot version of the compiler.
+  |
+  |               method foo is marked @experimental
+  |                         
diff --git a/tests/neg/use-experimental-def.scala b/tests/neg/use-experimental-def.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..68ce0d6987ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/neg/use-experimental-def.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+//> using options -Yno-experimental
+
+import scala.annotation.experimental
+
+@experimental def foo: Int = 1
+
+def bar: Int = foo // error