diff --git a/src/librustc_passes/ast_validation.rs b/src/librustc_passes/ast_validation.rs
index 6275639a9adff..165d31a5999f0 100644
--- a/src/librustc_passes/ast_validation.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_passes/ast_validation.rs
@@ -53,8 +53,9 @@ impl<'a> AstValidator<'a> {
                                            span,
                                            E0449,
                                            "unnecessary visibility qualifier");
+            err.span_label(span, &format!("`pub` not needed here"));
             if let Some(note) = note {
-                err.span_note(span, note);
+                err.note(note);
             }
             err.emit();
         }