diff --git a/src/ORM/EagerLoader.php b/src/ORM/EagerLoader.php
index 2add34c0b5d..b1231d90751 100644
--- a/src/ORM/EagerLoader.php
+++ b/src/ORM/EagerLoader.php
@@ -650,14 +650,14 @@ public function loadExternal(Query $query, StatementInterface $statement): State
 
             $requiresKeys = $instance->requiresKeys($config);
             if ($requiresKeys) {
-                // If the path or alias has no key the required assoication load will fail.
+                // If the path or alias has no key the required association load will fail.
                 // Nested paths are not subject to this condition because they could
                 // be attached to joined associations.
                 if (
                     strpos($path, '.') === false &&
                     (!array_key_exists($path, $collected) || !array_key_exists($alias, $collected[$path]))
                 ) {
-                    $message = "Unable to load `{$path}` association. Ensure foreign key on `{$alias}` is selected.";
+                    $message = "Unable to load `{$path}` association. Ensure foreign key in `{$alias}` is selected.";
                     throw new InvalidArgumentException($message);
                 }
 
diff --git a/tests/TestCase/ORM/Association/BelongsToTest.php b/tests/TestCase/ORM/Association/BelongsToTest.php
index 07d0bca4a4d..cf862d2eb42 100644
--- a/tests/TestCase/ORM/Association/BelongsToTest.php
+++ b/tests/TestCase/ORM/Association/BelongsToTest.php
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ public function testAttachToNoForeignKeySelect()
             ->contain('Authors');
 
         $this->expectException(InvalidArgumentException::class);
-        $this->expectExceptionMessage('Unable to load `Authors` association. Ensure foreign key on `Articles`');
+        $this->expectExceptionMessage('Unable to load `Authors` association. Ensure foreign key in `Articles`');
         $query->first();
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/TestCase/ORM/Association/HasManyTest.php b/tests/TestCase/ORM/Association/HasManyTest.php
index 21566189ea7..fb3e9723184 100644
--- a/tests/TestCase/ORM/Association/HasManyTest.php
+++ b/tests/TestCase/ORM/Association/HasManyTest.php
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ public function testEagerloaderNoForeignKeys()
         $authors->hasMany('Articles');
 
         $this->expectException(InvalidArgumentException::class);
-        $this->expectExceptionMessage('Unable to load `Articles` association. Ensure foreign key on `Authors`');
+        $this->expectExceptionMessage('Unable to load `Articles` association. Ensure foreign key in `Authors`');
         $query = $authors->find()
             ->select(['Authors.name'])
             ->where(['Authors.id' => 1])