diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir/src/hir.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir/src/hir.rs
index 4bb6a796be44..f8506d8b29b4 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir/src/hir.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir/src/hir.rs
@@ -4400,27 +4400,6 @@ impl ItemKind<'_> {
             _ => return None,
         })
     }
-
-    pub fn descr(&self) -> &'static str {
-        match self {
-            ItemKind::ExternCrate(..) => "extern crate",
-            ItemKind::Use(..) => "`use` import",
-            ItemKind::Static(..) => "static item",
-            ItemKind::Const(..) => "constant item",
-            ItemKind::Fn { .. } => "function",
-            ItemKind::Macro(..) => "macro",
-            ItemKind::Mod(..) => "module",
-            ItemKind::ForeignMod { .. } => "extern block",
-            ItemKind::GlobalAsm { .. } => "global asm item",
-            ItemKind::TyAlias(..) => "type alias",
-            ItemKind::Enum(..) => "enum",
-            ItemKind::Struct(..) => "struct",
-            ItemKind::Union(..) => "union",
-            ItemKind::Trait(..) => "trait",
-            ItemKind::TraitAlias(..) => "trait alias",
-            ItemKind::Impl(..) => "implementation",
-        }
-    }
 }
 
 /// A reference from an trait to one of its associated items. This
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/check_attr.rs b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/check_attr.rs
index 34c76bd3f27f..19729cbc726a 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/check_attr.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/check_attr.rs
@@ -2844,7 +2844,7 @@ fn check_invalid_crate_level_attr(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, attrs: &[Attribute]) {
             .find(|item| !item.span.is_dummy()) // Skip prelude `use`s
             .map(|item| errors::ItemFollowingInnerAttr {
                 span: if let Some(ident) = item.kind.ident() { ident.span } else { item.span },
-                kind: item.kind.descr(),
+                kind: tcx.def_descr(item.owner_id.to_def_id()),
             });
         let err = tcx.dcx().create_err(errors::InvalidAttrAtCrateLevel {
             span,
diff --git a/tests/ui/lowering/issue-121108.stderr b/tests/ui/lowering/issue-121108.stderr
index e4942e8cb079..f68655a70021 100644
--- a/tests/ui/lowering/issue-121108.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/lowering/issue-121108.stderr
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ LL | #![derive(Clone, Copy)]
    | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 LL |
 LL | use std::ptr::addr_of;
-   |               ------- the inner attribute doesn't annotate this `use` import
+   |               ------- the inner attribute doesn't annotate this import
    |
 help: perhaps you meant to use an outer attribute
    |