diff --git a/compiler/rustc_error_codes/src/error_codes/E0515.md b/compiler/rustc_error_codes/src/error_codes/E0515.md
index 0f4fbf672239c..87bbe4aea705f 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_error_codes/src/error_codes/E0515.md
+++ b/compiler/rustc_error_codes/src/error_codes/E0515.md
@@ -17,10 +17,13 @@ fn get_dangling_iterator<'a>() -> Iter<'a, i32> {
 }
 ```
 
-Local variables, function parameters and temporaries are all dropped before the
-end of the function body. So a reference to them cannot be returned.
+Local variables, function parameters and temporaries are all dropped before
+the end of the function body. A returned reference (or struct containing a
+reference) to such a dropped value would immediately be invalid. Therefore
+it is not allowed to return such a reference.
 
-Consider returning an owned value instead:
+Consider returning a value that takes ownership of local data instead of
+referencing it:
 
 ```
 use std::vec::IntoIter;