diff --git a/flang/lib/Semantics/check-declarations.cpp b/flang/lib/Semantics/check-declarations.cpp
index e5a01657e4a15..0a0601cb04c85 100644
--- a/flang/lib/Semantics/check-declarations.cpp
+++ b/flang/lib/Semantics/check-declarations.cpp
@@ -363,7 +363,10 @@ void CheckHelper::Check(const Symbol &symbol) {
       // are not pertinent to the characteristics of the procedure.
       // Restrictions on entities in pure procedure interfaces don't need
       // enforcement.
-    } else if (!FindCommonBlockContaining(symbol) && IsSaved(symbol)) {
+    } else if (symbol.has<AssocEntityDetails>() ||
+        FindCommonBlockContaining(symbol)) {
+      // can look like they have SAVE but are fine in PURE
+    } else if (IsSaved(symbol)) {
       if (IsInitialized(symbol)) {
         messages_.Say(
             "A pure subprogram may not initialize a variable"_err_en_US);
diff --git a/flang/test/Semantics/call10.f90 b/flang/test/Semantics/call10.f90
index 81c28082a843f..47976ca9630cd 100644
--- a/flang/test/Semantics/call10.f90
+++ b/flang/test/Semantics/call10.f90
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ pure subroutine s05a
     end subroutine
   end interface
 
+  real :: moduleVar = 1.
+
  contains
 
   subroutine impure(x)
@@ -117,6 +119,8 @@ pure subroutine s05 ! C1589
     !ERROR: A pure subprogram may not initialize a variable
       real :: v6 = 0.
     end block
+    associate (x => moduleVar) ! ok
+    end associate
   end subroutine
   pure subroutine s06 ! C1589
     !ERROR: A pure subprogram may not have a variable with the VOLATILE attribute