diff --git a/libs/langgraph/langgraph/graph/state.py b/libs/langgraph/langgraph/graph/state.py
index 96ad8e513..bfc60b09e 100644
--- a/libs/langgraph/langgraph/graph/state.py
+++ b/libs/langgraph/langgraph/graph/state.py
@@ -358,8 +358,8 @@ def add_edge(self, start_key: Union[str, list[str]], end_key: str) -> None:
                 raise ValueError("END cannot be a start node")
             if start not in self.nodes:
                 raise ValueError(f"Need to add_node `{start}` first")
-        if end_key == END:
-            raise ValueError("END cannot be an end node")
+        if end_key == START:
+            raise ValueError("START cannot be an end node")
         if end_key not in self.nodes:
             raise ValueError(f"Need to add_node `{end_key}` first")