diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/component_ref.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/component_ref.ts
index 74c12cc8c8a..66afa098301 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/component_ref.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/component_ref.ts
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@ export class ComponentRef<T> extends AbstractComponentRef<T> {
     if (ngDevMode && !hasSetInput) {
       const cmpNameForError = stringifyForError(this.componentType);
       let message = `Can't set value of the '${name}' input on the '${cmpNameForError}' component. `;
-      message += `Make sure that the '${name}' property is annotated with @Input() or a mapped @Input('${name}') exists.`;
+      message += `Make sure that the '${name}' property is declared as an input using the @Input() decorator or the input() function.`;
       reportUnknownPropertyError(message);
     }
   }
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/component_ref_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/component_ref_spec.ts
index 132bfb64e20..e8992a5d7ec 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/component_ref_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/component_ref_spec.ts
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ describe('ComponentFactory', () => {
       fixture.componentRef.setInput('doesNotExist', '');
 
       const msgL1 = `NG0303: Can't set value of the 'doesNotExist' input on the 'NoInputsCmp' component. `;
-      const msgL2 = `Make sure that the 'doesNotExist' property is annotated with @Input() or a mapped @Input('doesNotExist') exists.`;
+      const msgL2 = `Make sure that the 'doesNotExist' property is declared as an input using the @Input() decorator or the input() function.`;
       expect(console.error).toHaveBeenCalledWith(msgL1 + msgL2);
     });