diff --git a/compiler/rustc_ast/src/entry.rs b/compiler/rustc_ast/src/entry.rs
index cd8a5a6692000..0c821168afda7 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_ast/src/entry.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_ast/src/entry.rs
@@ -4,11 +4,34 @@ use rustc_span::Symbol;
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub enum EntryPointType {
+    /// This function is not an entrypoint.
     None,
+    /// This is a function called `main` at the root level.
+    /// ```
+    /// fn main() {}
+    /// ```
     MainNamed,
+    /// This is a function with the `#[rustc_main]` attribute.
+    /// Used by the testing harness to create the test entrypoint.
+    /// ```ignore (clashes with test entrypoint)
+    /// #[rustc_main]
+    /// fn main() {}
+    /// ```
     RustcMainAttr,
+    /// This is a function with the `#[start]` attribute.
+    /// ```ignore (clashes with test entrypoint)
+    /// #[start]
+    /// fn main() {}
+    /// ```
     Start,
-    OtherMain, // Not an entry point, but some other function named main
+    /// This function is **not** an entrypoint but simply named `main` (not at the root).
+    /// This is only used for diagnostics.
+    /// ```
+    /// mod meow {
+    ///     fn main() {}
+    /// }
+    /// ```
+    OtherMain,
 }
 
 pub fn entry_point_type(
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/test_harness.rs b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/test_harness.rs
index a2015445b42c9..8cf431482ff73 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/test_harness.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/test_harness.rs
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ fn generate_test_harness(
 ///
 /// By default this expands to
 ///
-/// ```ignore UNSOLVED (I think I still need guidance for this one. Is it correct? Do we try to make it run? How do we nicely fill it out?)
+/// ```ignore (messes with test internals)
 /// #[rustc_main]
 /// pub fn main() {
 ///     extern crate test;
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_passes/messages.ftl b/compiler/rustc_passes/messages.ftl
index a545c170297de..b776895734776 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_passes/messages.ftl
+++ b/compiler/rustc_passes/messages.ftl
@@ -50,10 +50,7 @@ passes_attr_only_in_functions =
     `{$attr}` attribute can only be used on functions
 
 passes_attr_only_on_main =
-    `{$attr}` attribute can only be used on `fn main()`
-
-passes_attr_only_on_root_main =
-    `{$attr}` attribute can only be used on root `fn main()`
+    `{$attr}` attribute can only be used on the root `fn main()`
 
 passes_both_ffi_const_and_pure =
     `#[ffi_const]` function cannot be `#[ffi_pure]`
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/entry.rs b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/entry.rs
index 438c583db49e5..5667233544b6a 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/entry.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/entry.rs
@@ -12,17 +12,17 @@ use rustc_span::symbol::sym;
 use rustc_span::{Span, Symbol};
 
 use crate::errors::{
-    AttrOnlyInFunctions, AttrOnlyOnMain, AttrOnlyOnRootMain, ExternMain, MultipleRustcMain,
-    MultipleStartFunctions, NoMainErr, UnixSigpipeValues,
+    AttrOnlyInFunctions, AttrOnlyOnMain, ExternMain, MultipleRustcMain, MultipleStartFunctions,
+    NoMainErr, UnixSigpipeValues,
 };
 
 struct EntryContext<'tcx> {
     tcx: TyCtxt<'tcx>,
 
-    /// The function that has attribute named `main`.
-    attr_main_fn: Option<(LocalDefId, Span)>,
+    /// The function has the `#[rustc_main]` attribute.
+    rustc_main_fn: Option<(LocalDefId, Span)>,
 
-    /// The function that has the attribute 'start' on it.
+    /// The function that has the attribute `#[start]` on it.
     start_fn: Option<(LocalDefId, Span)>,
 
     /// The functions that one might think are `main` but aren't, e.g.
@@ -43,10 +43,10 @@ fn entry_fn(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, (): ()) -> Option<(DefId, EntryFnType)> {
     }
 
     let mut ctxt =
-        EntryContext { tcx, attr_main_fn: None, start_fn: None, non_main_fns: Vec::new() };
+        EntryContext { tcx, rustc_main_fn: None, start_fn: None, non_main_fns: Vec::new() };
 
     for id in tcx.hir().items() {
-        find_item(id, &mut ctxt);
+        check_and_search_item(id, &mut ctxt);
     }
 
     configure_main(tcx, &ctxt)
@@ -57,7 +57,16 @@ fn attr_span_by_symbol(ctxt: &EntryContext<'_>, id: ItemId, sym: Symbol) -> Opti
     attr::find_by_name(attrs, sym).map(|attr| attr.span)
 }
 
-fn find_item(id: ItemId, ctxt: &mut EntryContext<'_>) {
+fn check_and_search_item(id: ItemId, ctxt: &mut EntryContext<'_>) {
+    if !matches!(ctxt.tcx.def_kind(id.owner_id), DefKind::Fn) {
+        for attr in [sym::start, sym::rustc_main] {
+            if let Some(span) = attr_span_by_symbol(ctxt, id, attr) {
+                ctxt.tcx.dcx().emit_err(AttrOnlyInFunctions { span, attr });
+            }
+        }
+        return;
+    }
+
     let at_root = ctxt.tcx.opt_local_parent(id.owner_id.def_id) == Some(CRATE_DEF_ID);
 
     let attrs = ctxt.tcx.hir().attrs(id.hir_id());
@@ -66,41 +75,32 @@ fn find_item(id: ItemId, ctxt: &mut EntryContext<'_>) {
         at_root,
         ctxt.tcx.opt_item_name(id.owner_id.to_def_id()),
     );
+
+    if let EntryPointType::None | EntryPointType::OtherMain | EntryPointType::Start =
+        entry_point_type
+        && let Some(span) = attr_span_by_symbol(ctxt, id, sym::unix_sigpipe)
+    {
+        ctxt.tcx.dcx().emit_err(AttrOnlyOnMain { span, attr: sym::unix_sigpipe });
+    }
+
     match entry_point_type {
-        EntryPointType::None => {
-            if let Some(span) = attr_span_by_symbol(ctxt, id, sym::unix_sigpipe) {
-                ctxt.tcx.dcx().emit_err(AttrOnlyOnMain { span, attr: sym::unix_sigpipe });
-            }
-        }
-        _ if !matches!(ctxt.tcx.def_kind(id.owner_id), DefKind::Fn) => {
-            for attr in [sym::start, sym::rustc_main] {
-                if let Some(span) = attr_span_by_symbol(ctxt, id, attr) {
-                    ctxt.tcx.dcx().emit_err(AttrOnlyInFunctions { span, attr });
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        EntryPointType::MainNamed => (),
+        EntryPointType::None => {}
+        EntryPointType::MainNamed => {}
         EntryPointType::OtherMain => {
-            if let Some(span) = attr_span_by_symbol(ctxt, id, sym::unix_sigpipe) {
-                ctxt.tcx.dcx().emit_err(AttrOnlyOnRootMain { span, attr: sym::unix_sigpipe });
-            }
             ctxt.non_main_fns.push(ctxt.tcx.def_span(id.owner_id));
         }
         EntryPointType::RustcMainAttr => {
-            if ctxt.attr_main_fn.is_none() {
-                ctxt.attr_main_fn = Some((id.owner_id.def_id, ctxt.tcx.def_span(id.owner_id)));
+            if ctxt.rustc_main_fn.is_none() {
+                ctxt.rustc_main_fn = Some((id.owner_id.def_id, ctxt.tcx.def_span(id.owner_id)));
             } else {
                 ctxt.tcx.dcx().emit_err(MultipleRustcMain {
                     span: ctxt.tcx.def_span(id.owner_id.to_def_id()),
-                    first: ctxt.attr_main_fn.unwrap().1,
+                    first: ctxt.rustc_main_fn.unwrap().1,
                     additional: ctxt.tcx.def_span(id.owner_id.to_def_id()),
                 });
             }
         }
         EntryPointType::Start => {
-            if let Some(span) = attr_span_by_symbol(ctxt, id, sym::unix_sigpipe) {
-                ctxt.tcx.dcx().emit_err(AttrOnlyOnMain { span, attr: sym::unix_sigpipe });
-            }
             if ctxt.start_fn.is_none() {
                 ctxt.start_fn = Some((id.owner_id.def_id, ctxt.tcx.def_span(id.owner_id)));
             } else {
@@ -118,10 +118,11 @@ fn find_item(id: ItemId, ctxt: &mut EntryContext<'_>) {
 fn configure_main(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, visitor: &EntryContext<'_>) -> Option<(DefId, EntryFnType)> {
     if let Some((def_id, _)) = visitor.start_fn {
         Some((def_id.to_def_id(), EntryFnType::Start))
-    } else if let Some((local_def_id, _)) = visitor.attr_main_fn {
+    } else if let Some((local_def_id, _)) = visitor.rustc_main_fn {
         let def_id = local_def_id.to_def_id();
         Some((def_id, EntryFnType::Main { sigpipe: sigpipe(tcx, def_id) }))
     } else {
+        // The actual resolution of main happens in the resolver, this here
         if let Some(main_def) = tcx.resolutions(()).main_def
             && let Some(def_id) = main_def.opt_fn_def_id()
         {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/errors.rs b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/errors.rs
index 03a607348e88c..9be69ac8ef2b7 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/errors.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/errors.rs
@@ -1214,14 +1214,6 @@ pub struct AttrOnlyOnMain {
     pub attr: Symbol,
 }
 
-#[derive(Diagnostic)]
-#[diag(passes_attr_only_on_root_main)]
-pub struct AttrOnlyOnRootMain {
-    #[primary_span]
-    pub span: Span,
-    pub attr: Symbol,
-}
-
 #[derive(Diagnostic)]
 #[diag(passes_attr_only_in_functions)]
 pub struct AttrOnlyInFunctions {
diff --git a/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-non-main-fn.rs b/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-non-main-fn.rs
index 16731a4ba2c6e..a8ad86e7ccaa6 100644
--- a/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-non-main-fn.rs
+++ b/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-non-main-fn.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #![feature(unix_sigpipe)]
 
-#[unix_sigpipe = "sig_dfl"] //~ error: `unix_sigpipe` attribute can only be used on `fn main()`
+#[unix_sigpipe = "sig_dfl"] //~ error: `unix_sigpipe` attribute can only be used on the root `fn main()`
 fn f() {}
 
 fn main() {}
diff --git a/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-non-main-fn.stderr b/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-non-main-fn.stderr
index fcdd5db8f294b..587d68f385bef 100644
--- a/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-non-main-fn.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-non-main-fn.stderr
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-error: `unix_sigpipe` attribute can only be used on `fn main()`
+error: `unix_sigpipe` attribute can only be used on the root `fn main()`
   --> $DIR/unix_sigpipe-non-main-fn.rs:3:1
    |
 LL | #[unix_sigpipe = "sig_dfl"]
diff --git a/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-non-root-main.rs b/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-non-root-main.rs
index a2435258620a0..6bcaef17c4781 100644
--- a/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-non-root-main.rs
+++ b/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-non-root-main.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #![feature(unix_sigpipe)]
 
 mod m {
-    #[unix_sigpipe = "sig_dfl"] //~ error: `unix_sigpipe` attribute can only be used on root `fn main()`
+    #[unix_sigpipe = "sig_dfl"] //~ error: `unix_sigpipe` attribute can only be used on the root `fn main()`
     fn main() {}
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-non-root-main.stderr b/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-non-root-main.stderr
index 98afb62fdb43b..5dee75f204189 100644
--- a/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-non-root-main.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-non-root-main.stderr
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-error: `unix_sigpipe` attribute can only be used on root `fn main()`
+error: `unix_sigpipe` attribute can only be used on the root `fn main()`
   --> $DIR/unix_sigpipe-non-root-main.rs:4:5
    |
 LL |     #[unix_sigpipe = "sig_dfl"]
diff --git a/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-start.rs b/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-start.rs
index 945b820f9e00a..e7e90f778f766 100644
--- a/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-start.rs
+++ b/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-start.rs
@@ -2,5 +2,5 @@
 #![feature(unix_sigpipe)]
 
 #[start]
-#[unix_sigpipe = "sig_dfl"] //~ error: `unix_sigpipe` attribute can only be used on `fn main()`
+#[unix_sigpipe = "sig_dfl"] //~ error: `unix_sigpipe` attribute can only be used on the root `fn main()`
 fn custom_start(argc: isize, argv: *const *const u8) -> isize { 0 }
diff --git a/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-start.stderr b/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-start.stderr
index 3d56b3655c957..56e08b7962030 100644
--- a/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-start.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-start.stderr
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-error: `unix_sigpipe` attribute can only be used on `fn main()`
+error: `unix_sigpipe` attribute can only be used on the root `fn main()`
   --> $DIR/unix_sigpipe-start.rs:5:1
    |
 LL | #[unix_sigpipe = "sig_dfl"]
diff --git a/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-struct.rs b/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-struct.rs
index 662779c082177..af1e4f56a59c9 100644
--- a/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-struct.rs
+++ b/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-struct.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #![feature(unix_sigpipe)]
 
-#[unix_sigpipe = "sig_dfl"] //~ error: `unix_sigpipe` attribute can only be used on `fn main()`
+#[unix_sigpipe = "sig_dfl"] //~ error: `unix_sigpipe` attribute can only be used on the root `fn main()`
 struct S;
 
 fn main() {}
diff --git a/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-struct.stderr b/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-struct.stderr
index a8fc51bdbc430..9a3085129677c 100644
--- a/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-struct.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/attributes/unix_sigpipe/unix_sigpipe-struct.stderr
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-error: `unix_sigpipe` attribute can only be used on `fn main()`
+error: `unix_sigpipe` attribute can only be used on the root `fn main()`
   --> $DIR/unix_sigpipe-struct.rs:3:1
    |
 LL | #[unix_sigpipe = "sig_dfl"]