diff --git a/d2compiler/compile_test.go b/d2compiler/compile_test.go
index 2cdc05a4e..5135be5a8 100644
--- a/d2compiler/compile_test.go
+++ b/d2compiler/compile_test.go
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ containers: {
   Steps
 }
 `,
-			expErr: `d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/image_children_Steps.d2:4:3: steps is only allowed at a board root`,
+			expErr: `d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/image_children_Steps.d2:4:3: steps must be declared at a board root scope`,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "name-with-dot-underscore",
@@ -1746,7 +1746,7 @@ c: {
 }
 `,
 			},
-			expErr: `d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/import-classes-boards.d2:10:7: layers is only allowed at a board root`,
+			expErr: `d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/import-classes-boards.d2:10:7: layers must be declared at a board root scope`,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "import_url_link",
diff --git a/d2ir/compile_test.go b/d2ir/compile_test.go
index c0ac8f4c4..da3a74aaa 100644
--- a/d2ir/compile_test.go
+++ b/d2ir/compile_test.go
@@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ classes: {
   }
 }
 `)
-				assert.ErrorString(t, err, `TestCompile/classes/nonroot.d2:2:3: classes is only allowed at a board root`)
+				assert.ErrorString(t, err, `TestCompile/classes/nonroot.d2:2:3: classes must be declared at a board root scope`)
 			},
 		},
 		{
diff --git a/d2ir/d2ir.go b/d2ir/d2ir.go
index e41edbb83..290e679de 100644
--- a/d2ir/d2ir.go
+++ b/d2ir/d2ir.go
@@ -942,11 +942,11 @@ func (m *Map) ensureField(i int, kp *d2ast.KeyPath, refctx *RefContext, create b
 	}
 
 	if headString == "classes" && head.IsUnquoted() && NodeBoardKind(m) == "" {
-		return d2parser.Errorf(kp.Path[i].Unbox(), "%s is only allowed at a board root", headString)
+		return d2parser.Errorf(kp.Path[i].Unbox(), "%s must be declared at a board root scope", headString)
 	}
 
 	if findBoardKeyword(head) != -1 && head.IsUnquoted() && NodeBoardKind(m) == "" {
-		return d2parser.Errorf(kp.Path[i].Unbox(), "%s is only allowed at a board root", headString)
+		return d2parser.Errorf(kp.Path[i].Unbox(), "%s must be declared at a board root scope", headString)
 	}
 
 	for _, f := range m.Fields {
diff --git a/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/image_children_Steps.exp.json b/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/image_children_Steps.exp.json
index b9b6f483f..647584533 100644
--- a/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/image_children_Steps.exp.json
+++ b/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/image_children_Steps.exp.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     "errs": [
       {
         "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/image_children_Steps.d2,3:2:115-3:7:120",
-        "errmsg": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/image_children_Steps.d2:4:3: steps is only allowed at a board root"
+        "errmsg": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/image_children_Steps.d2:4:3: steps must be declared at a board root scope"
       }
     ]
   }
diff --git a/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/import-classes-boards.exp.json b/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/import-classes-boards.exp.json
index f746a724a..50d98e426 100644
--- a/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/import-classes-boards.exp.json
+++ b/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/import-classes-boards.exp.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     "errs": [
       {
         "range": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/import-classes-boards.d2,9:6:75-9:12:81",
-        "errmsg": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/import-classes-boards.d2:10:7: layers is only allowed at a board root"
+        "errmsg": "d2/testdata/d2compiler/TestCompile/import-classes-boards.d2:10:7: layers must be declared at a board root scope"
       }
     ]
   }