diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/struct.v b/vlib/v/checker/struct.v
index 4094b581ab5c49..c977a32d7d13ec 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/struct.v
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/struct.v
@@ -750,8 +750,9 @@ or use an explicit `unsafe{ a[..] }`, if you do not want a copy of the slice.',
 									} else {
 										parts.last()
 									}
-									c.warn('cannot access private field `${field.name}` on `${mod_type}`',
-										init_field.pos)
+									c.add_error_detail('this will become an error after 2024-05-31')
+									c.warn('initalizing private field `${field.name}` of `${mod_type}`', init_field.pos)
+									// c.error('cannot access private field `${field.name}` on `${mod_type}`', init_field.pos)
 									break
 								}
 							}
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/tests/struct_field_private_err.out b/vlib/v/checker/tests/struct_field_private_err.out
index e88fec1d00354f..c9a44768379e74 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/tests/struct_field_private_err.out
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/tests/struct_field_private_err.out
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
-vlib/v/checker/tests/struct_field_private_err.vv:8:2: warning: cannot access private field `x` on `amod.Bcg`
+vlib/v/checker/tests/struct_field_private_err.vv:8:2: warning: initalizing private field `x` of `amod.Bcg`
     6 | 
     7 | _ := amod.Bcg{
     8 |     x: 0
       |     ~~~~
     9 | }
    10 |
-vlib/v/checker/tests/struct_field_private_err.vv:11:10: warning: cannot access private field `bar` on `amod.FooParams`
+Details: this will become an error after 2024-05-31
+vlib/v/checker/tests/struct_field_private_err.vv:11:10: warning: initalizing private field `bar` of `amod.FooParams`
     9 | }
    10 | 
    11 | amod.foo(bar: 'bar')
       |          ~~~~~~~~~~
+Details: this will become an error after 2024-05-31