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
@@ -45,26 +45,8 @@
 
 private:
   template <typename A> void CheckSpecExpr(const A &x) {
-    if (symbolBeingChecked_ && IsSaved(*symbolBeingChecked_)) {
-      if (!evaluate::IsConstantExpr(x)) {
-        messages_.Say(
-            "Specification expression must be constant in declaration of '%s' with the SAVE attribute"_err_en_US,
-            symbolBeingChecked_->name());
-      }
-    } else {
-      evaluate::CheckSpecificationExpr(
-          x, messages_, DEREF(scope_), context_.intrinsics());
-    }
-  }
-  template <typename A> void CheckSpecExpr(const std::optional<A> &x) {
-    if (x) {
-      CheckSpecExpr(*x);
-    }
-  }
-  template <typename A> void CheckSpecExpr(A &x) {
-    x = Fold(foldingContext_, std::move(x));
-    const A &constx{x};
-    CheckSpecExpr(constx);
+    evaluate::CheckSpecificationExpr(
+        x, messages_, DEREF(scope_), context_.intrinsics());
   }
   void CheckValue(const Symbol &, const DerivedTypeSpec *);
   void CheckVolatile(
@@ -120,7 +102,6 @@
   // This symbol is the one attached to the innermost enclosing scope
   // that has a symbol.
   const Symbol *innermostSymbol_{nullptr};
-  const Symbol *symbolBeingChecked_{nullptr};
 };
 
 void CheckHelper::Check(const ParamValue &value, bool canBeAssumed) {
@@ -295,6 +276,12 @@
     messages_.Say(
         "A CONTIGUOUS component must be an array with the POINTER attribute"_err_en_US);
   }
+  if (symbol.owner().IsModule() && IsAutomatic(symbol)) {
+    messages_.Say(
+        "Automatic data object '%s' may not appear in the specification part"
+        " of a module"_err_en_US,
+        symbol.name());
+  }
 }
 
 void CheckHelper::CheckValue(
@@ -388,13 +375,10 @@
 
 void CheckHelper::CheckObjectEntity(
     const Symbol &symbol, const ObjectEntityDetails &details) {
-  CHECK(!symbolBeingChecked_);
-  symbolBeingChecked_ = &symbol; // for specification expr checks
   CheckArraySpec(symbol, details.shape());
   Check(details.shape());
   Check(details.coshape());
   CheckAssumedTypeEntity(symbol, details);
-  symbolBeingChecked_ = nullptr;
   if (!details.coshape().empty()) {
     bool isDeferredShape{details.coshape().IsDeferredShape()};
     if (IsAllocatable(symbol)) {
diff --git a/flang/lib/Semantics/resolve-names.cpp b/flang/lib/Semantics/resolve-names.cpp
--- a/flang/lib/Semantics/resolve-names.cpp
+++ b/flang/lib/Semantics/resolve-names.cpp
@@ -4451,6 +4451,8 @@
   } else if (symbol.has<ProcEntityDetails>() &&
       !symbol.attrs().test(Attr::POINTER)) {
     return "Procedure '%s' with SAVE attribute must also have POINTER attribute"_err_en_US;
+  } else if (IsAutomatic(symbol)) {
+    return "SAVE attribute may not be applied to automatic data object '%s'"_err_en_US;
   } else {
     return std::nullopt;
   }
diff --git a/flang/test/Semantics/modfile03.f90 b/flang/test/Semantics/modfile03.f90
--- a/flang/test/Semantics/modfile03.f90
+++ b/flang/test/Semantics/modfile03.f90
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@
 
 module m5b
   use m5a, only: k2 => k1, l2 => l1, f2 => f1
-  character(l2, k2) :: x
   interface
     subroutine s(x, y)
       import f2, l2
@@ -82,7 +81,6 @@
 ! use m5a,only:k2=>k1
 ! use m5a,only:l2=>l1
 ! use m5a,only:f2=>f1
-! character(l2,4)::x
 ! interface
 !  subroutine s(x,y)
 !   import::f2
diff --git a/flang/test/Semantics/resolve45.f90 b/flang/test/Semantics/resolve45.f90
--- a/flang/test/Semantics/resolve45.f90
+++ b/flang/test/Semantics/resolve45.f90
@@ -68,3 +68,14 @@
   !ERROR: 'x' appears as a COMMON block in a SAVE statement but not in a COMMON statement
   save /x/
 end
+
+subroutine s8a(n)
+  integer :: n
+  real :: x(n)  ! OK: save statement doesn't affect x
+  save
+end
+subroutine s8b(n)
+  integer :: n
+  !ERROR: SAVE attribute may not be applied to automatic data object 'x'
+  real, save :: x(n)
+end
diff --git a/flang/test/Semantics/resolve77.f90 b/flang/test/Semantics/resolve77.f90
--- a/flang/test/Semantics/resolve77.f90
+++ b/flang/test/Semantics/resolve77.f90
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   interface ifn3
     module procedure if3
   end interface
-  !ERROR: Specification expression must be constant in declaration of 'a' with the SAVE attribute
+  !ERROR: Automatic data object 'a' may not appear in the specification part of a module
   real :: a(if1(1))
   !ERROR: No specific procedure of generic 'ifn2' matches the actual arguments
   real :: b(ifn2(1))