diff --git a/flang/lib/Semantics/check-declarations.cpp b/flang/lib/Semantics/check-declarations.cpp
--- a/flang/lib/Semantics/check-declarations.cpp
+++ b/flang/lib/Semantics/check-declarations.cpp
@@ -237,8 +237,13 @@
   }
   if (InPure()) {
     if (IsSaved(symbol)) {
-      messages_.Say(
-          "A pure subprogram may not have a variable with the SAVE attribute"_err_en_US);
+      if (IsInitialized(symbol)) {
+        messages_.Say(
+            "A pure subprogram may not initialize a variable"_err_en_US);
+      } else {
+        messages_.Say(
+            "A pure subprogram may not have a variable with the SAVE attribute"_err_en_US);
+      }
     }
     if (symbol.attrs().test(Attr::VOLATILE)) {
       messages_.Say(
diff --git a/flang/test/Semantics/call10.f90 b/flang/test/Semantics/call10.f90
--- a/flang/test/Semantics/call10.f90
+++ b/flang/test/Semantics/call10.f90
@@ -85,9 +85,9 @@
   pure subroutine s05 ! C1589
     !ERROR: A pure subprogram may not have a variable with the SAVE attribute
     real, save :: v1
-    !ERROR: A pure subprogram may not have a variable with the SAVE attribute
+    !ERROR: A pure subprogram may not initialize a variable
     real :: v2 = 0.
-    !ERROR: A pure subprogram may not have a variable with the SAVE attribute
+    !ERROR: A pure subprogram may not initialize a variable
     real :: v3
     data v3/0./
     !ERROR: A pure subprogram may not have a variable with the SAVE attribute
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
     block
     !ERROR: A pure subprogram may not have a variable with the SAVE attribute
       real, save :: v5
-    !ERROR: A pure subprogram may not have a variable with the SAVE attribute
+    !ERROR: A pure subprogram may not initialize a variable
       real :: v6 = 0.
     end block
   end subroutine