diff --git a/src/cmd/go/alldocs.go b/src/cmd/go/alldocs.go
index 6805d56e2c7ce..296f8f8c6aaee 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/alldocs.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/alldocs.go
@@ -1371,7 +1371,7 @@
 //
 // Workspace maintenance
 //
-// Go workspace provides access to operations on worskpaces.
+// Go workspace provides access to operations on workspaces.
 //
 // Note that support for workspaces is built into many other commands,
 // not just 'go work'.
@@ -1379,6 +1379,16 @@
 // See 'go help modules' for information about Go's module system of
 // which workspaces are a part.
 //
+// A workspace is specified by a go.work file that specifies a set of
+// module directories with the "use" directive. These modules are used
+// as root modules by the go command for builds and related operations.
+// A workspace that does not specify modules to be used cannot be used
+// to do builds from local code.
+//
+// To determine whether the go command is operating in workspace mode,
+// use the "go env GOWORK" command. This will specify the workspace
+// file being used.
+//
 // Usage:
 //
 // 	go work <command> [arguments]
diff --git a/src/cmd/go/internal/modload/init.go b/src/cmd/go/internal/modload/init.go
index 8bb3875e37f1a..30fe446e43e76 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/internal/modload/init.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/internal/modload/init.go
@@ -525,6 +525,9 @@ func die() {
 	if cfg.Getenv("GO111MODULE") == "off" {
 		base.Fatalf("go: modules disabled by GO111MODULE=off; see 'go help modules'")
 	}
+	if inWorkspaceMode() {
+		base.Fatalf("go: no modules were found in the current workspace; see 'go help work'")
+	}
 	if dir, name := findAltConfig(base.Cwd()); dir != "" {
 		rel, err := filepath.Rel(base.Cwd(), dir)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/src/cmd/go/internal/workcmd/work.go b/src/cmd/go/internal/workcmd/work.go
index 98d5a01de635c..a79eebe649e9c 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/internal/workcmd/work.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/internal/workcmd/work.go
@@ -12,13 +12,23 @@ import (
 var CmdWork = &base.Command{
 	UsageLine: "go work",
 	Short:     "workspace maintenance",
-	Long: `Go workspace provides access to operations on worskpaces.
+	Long: `Go workspace provides access to operations on workspaces.
 
 Note that support for workspaces is built into many other commands,
 not just 'go work'.
 
 See 'go help modules' for information about Go's module system of
 which workspaces are a part.
+
+A workspace is specified by a go.work file that specifies a set of
+module directories with the "use" directive. These modules are used
+as root modules by the go command for builds and related operations.
+A workspace that does not specify modules to be used cannot be used
+to do builds from local code.
+
+To determine whether the go command is operating in workspace mode,
+use the "go env GOWORK" command. This will specify the workspace
+file being used.
 `,
 
 	Commands: []*base.Command{
diff --git a/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/work_build_no_modules.txt b/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/work_build_no_modules.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..c9859b437e29c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/work_build_no_modules.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+! go build .
+stderr 'go: no modules were found in the current workspace; see ''go help work'''
+
+-- go.work --
+go 1.18
+-- go.mod --
+go 1.18
+
+module foo
+-- foo.go --
+package main
+
+func main() {}
\ No newline at end of file