diff --git a/src/compiler/checker.ts b/src/compiler/checker.ts
index 97bfa81630db2..9020d9e47dfd9 100644
--- a/src/compiler/checker.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/checker.ts
@@ -31848,7 +31848,7 @@ namespace ts {
                     return false;
             }
 
-            return grammarErrorOnFirstToken(node, Diagnostics.A_declare_modifier_is_required_for_a_top_level_declaration_in_a_d_ts_file);
+            return grammarErrorOnFirstToken(node, Diagnostics.Top_level_declarations_in_d_ts_files_must_start_with_either_a_declare_or_export_modifier);
         }
 
         function checkGrammarTopLevelElementsForRequiredDeclareModifier(file: SourceFile): boolean {
diff --git a/src/compiler/diagnosticMessages.json b/src/compiler/diagnosticMessages.json
index 04d8213dacbc6..befff38aee16b 100644
--- a/src/compiler/diagnosticMessages.json
+++ b/src/compiler/diagnosticMessages.json
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@
         "category": "Error",
         "code": 1045
     },
-    "A 'declare' modifier is required for a top level declaration in a .d.ts file.": {
+    "Top-level declarations in .d.ts files must start with either a 'declare' or 'export' modifier.": {
         "category": "Error",
         "code": 1046
     },
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/missingRequiredDeclare.d.errors.txt b/tests/baselines/reference/missingRequiredDeclare.d.errors.txt
index a673c948a4873..079de0b022260 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/missingRequiredDeclare.d.errors.txt
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/missingRequiredDeclare.d.errors.txt
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-tests/cases/compiler/missingRequiredDeclare.d.ts(1,1): error TS1046: A 'declare' modifier is required for a top level declaration in a .d.ts file.
+tests/cases/compiler/missingRequiredDeclare.d.ts(1,1): error TS1046: Top-level declarations in .d.ts files must start with either a 'declare' or 'export' modifier.
 tests/cases/compiler/missingRequiredDeclare.d.ts(1,9): error TS1039: Initializers are not allowed in ambient contexts.
 
 
 ==== tests/cases/compiler/missingRequiredDeclare.d.ts (2 errors) ====
     var x = 1;
     ~~~
-!!! error TS1046: A 'declare' modifier is required for a top level declaration in a .d.ts file.
+!!! error TS1046: Top-level declarations in .d.ts files must start with either a 'declare' or 'export' modifier.
             ~
 !!! error TS1039: Initializers are not allowed in ambient contexts.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/parserEnumDeclaration3.d.errors.txt b/tests/baselines/reference/parserEnumDeclaration3.d.errors.txt
index 03bba3492e77f..9be61012304b4 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/parserEnumDeclaration3.d.errors.txt
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/parserEnumDeclaration3.d.errors.txt
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/EnumDeclarations/parserEnumDeclaration3.d.ts(1,1): error TS1046: A 'declare' modifier is required for a top level declaration in a .d.ts file.
+tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/EnumDeclarations/parserEnumDeclaration3.d.ts(1,1): error TS1046: Top-level declarations in .d.ts files must start with either a 'declare' or 'export' modifier.
 
 
 ==== tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/EnumDeclarations/parserEnumDeclaration3.d.ts (1 errors) ====
     enum E {
     ~~~~
-!!! error TS1046: A 'declare' modifier is required for a top level declaration in a .d.ts file.
+!!! error TS1046: Top-level declarations in .d.ts files must start with either a 'declare' or 'export' modifier.
        A = 1
     }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/parserFunctionDeclaration2.d.errors.txt b/tests/baselines/reference/parserFunctionDeclaration2.d.errors.txt
index 6f836544efc90..b682d1b1e3fe5 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/parserFunctionDeclaration2.d.errors.txt
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/parserFunctionDeclaration2.d.errors.txt
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
-tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/FunctionDeclarations/parserFunctionDeclaration2.d.ts(1,1): error TS1046: A 'declare' modifier is required for a top level declaration in a .d.ts file.
+tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/FunctionDeclarations/parserFunctionDeclaration2.d.ts(1,1): error TS1046: Top-level declarations in .d.ts files must start with either a 'declare' or 'export' modifier.
 tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/FunctionDeclarations/parserFunctionDeclaration2.d.ts(1,14): error TS1183: An implementation cannot be declared in ambient contexts.
 
 
 ==== tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/FunctionDeclarations/parserFunctionDeclaration2.d.ts (2 errors) ====
     function F() {
     ~~~~~~~~
-!!! error TS1046: A 'declare' modifier is required for a top level declaration in a .d.ts file.
+!!! error TS1046: Top-level declarations in .d.ts files must start with either a 'declare' or 'export' modifier.
                  ~
 !!! error TS1183: An implementation cannot be declared in ambient contexts.
     }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/parserModuleDeclaration1.d.errors.txt b/tests/baselines/reference/parserModuleDeclaration1.d.errors.txt
index 4f5b3b581d18c..4c88d2a29946b 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/parserModuleDeclaration1.d.errors.txt
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/parserModuleDeclaration1.d.errors.txt
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/ModuleDeclarations/parserModuleDeclaration1.d.ts(1,1): error TS1046: A 'declare' modifier is required for a top level declaration in a .d.ts file.
+tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/ModuleDeclarations/parserModuleDeclaration1.d.ts(1,1): error TS1046: Top-level declarations in .d.ts files must start with either a 'declare' or 'export' modifier.
 
 
 ==== tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/ModuleDeclarations/parserModuleDeclaration1.d.ts (1 errors) ====
     module "Foo" {
     ~~~~~~
-!!! error TS1046: A 'declare' modifier is required for a top level declaration in a .d.ts file.
+!!! error TS1046: Top-level declarations in .d.ts files must start with either a 'declare' or 'export' modifier.
     }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/parserModuleDeclaration2.d.errors.txt b/tests/baselines/reference/parserModuleDeclaration2.d.errors.txt
index 00c2fbb82a0cb..6ff076949570c 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/parserModuleDeclaration2.d.errors.txt
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/parserModuleDeclaration2.d.errors.txt
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/ModuleDeclarations/parserModuleDeclaration2.d.ts(1,1): error TS1046: A 'declare' modifier is required for a top level declaration in a .d.ts file.
+tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/ModuleDeclarations/parserModuleDeclaration2.d.ts(1,1): error TS1046: Top-level declarations in .d.ts files must start with either a 'declare' or 'export' modifier.
 
 
 ==== tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/ModuleDeclarations/parserModuleDeclaration2.d.ts (1 errors) ====
     module M {
     ~~~~~~
-!!! error TS1046: A 'declare' modifier is required for a top level declaration in a .d.ts file.
+!!! error TS1046: Top-level declarations in .d.ts files must start with either a 'declare' or 'export' modifier.
     }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/parserModuleDeclaration4.d.errors.txt b/tests/baselines/reference/parserModuleDeclaration4.d.errors.txt
index 2e75c6cbc509a..107c44c453671 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/parserModuleDeclaration4.d.errors.txt
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/parserModuleDeclaration4.d.errors.txt
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
-tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/ModuleDeclarations/parserModuleDeclaration4.d.ts(1,1): error TS1046: A 'declare' modifier is required for a top level declaration in a .d.ts file.
+tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/ModuleDeclarations/parserModuleDeclaration4.d.ts(1,1): error TS1046: Top-level declarations in .d.ts files must start with either a 'declare' or 'export' modifier.
 tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/ModuleDeclarations/parserModuleDeclaration4.d.ts(2,3): error TS1038: A 'declare' modifier cannot be used in an already ambient context.
 
 
 ==== tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/ModuleDeclarations/parserModuleDeclaration4.d.ts (2 errors) ====
     module M {
     ~~~~~~
-!!! error TS1046: A 'declare' modifier is required for a top level declaration in a .d.ts file.
+!!! error TS1046: Top-level declarations in .d.ts files must start with either a 'declare' or 'export' modifier.
       declare module M1 {
       ~~~~~~~
 !!! error TS1038: A 'declare' modifier cannot be used in an already ambient context.
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/parserVariableStatement1.d.errors.txt b/tests/baselines/reference/parserVariableStatement1.d.errors.txt
index eb6f799df74ab..ade6a2ea338af 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/parserVariableStatement1.d.errors.txt
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/parserVariableStatement1.d.errors.txt
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/Statements/parserVariableStatement1.d.ts(1,1): error TS1046: A 'declare' modifier is required for a top level declaration in a .d.ts file.
+tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/Statements/parserVariableStatement1.d.ts(1,1): error TS1046: Top-level declarations in .d.ts files must start with either a 'declare' or 'export' modifier.
 tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/Statements/parserVariableStatement1.d.ts(1,9): error TS1039: Initializers are not allowed in ambient contexts.
 
 
 ==== tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/Statements/parserVariableStatement1.d.ts (2 errors) ====
     var v = 1;
     ~~~
-!!! error TS1046: A 'declare' modifier is required for a top level declaration in a .d.ts file.
+!!! error TS1046: Top-level declarations in .d.ts files must start with either a 'declare' or 'export' modifier.
             ~
 !!! error TS1039: Initializers are not allowed in ambient contexts.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/parserVariableStatement2.d.errors.txt b/tests/baselines/reference/parserVariableStatement2.d.errors.txt
index c0cdb0e2ac4e2..fafb31d399963 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/parserVariableStatement2.d.errors.txt
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/parserVariableStatement2.d.errors.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/Statements/parserVariableStatement2.d.ts(1,1): error TS1046: A 'declare' modifier is required for a top level declaration in a .d.ts file.
+tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/Statements/parserVariableStatement2.d.ts(1,1): error TS1046: Top-level declarations in .d.ts files must start with either a 'declare' or 'export' modifier.
 
 
 ==== tests/cases/conformance/parser/ecmascript5/Statements/parserVariableStatement2.d.ts (1 errors) ====
     var v;
     ~~~
-!!! error TS1046: A 'declare' modifier is required for a top level declaration in a .d.ts file.
\ No newline at end of file
+!!! error TS1046: Top-level declarations in .d.ts files must start with either a 'declare' or 'export' modifier.
\ No newline at end of file