diff --git a/src/doc/trpl/references-and-borrowing.md b/src/doc/trpl/references-and-borrowing.md
index 21feff73342ce..82533becef342 100644
--- a/src/doc/trpl/references-and-borrowing.md
+++ b/src/doc/trpl/references-and-borrowing.md
@@ -312,6 +312,7 @@ println!("{}", y);
 
 We get this error:
 
+```text
 error: `x` does not live long enough
     y = &x;
          ^
@@ -334,3 +335,37 @@ In other words, `y` is only valid for the scope where `x` exists. As soon as
 `x` goes away, it becomes invalid to refer to it. As such, the error says that
 the borrow ‘doesn’t live long enough’ because it’s not valid for the right
 amount of time.
+
+The same problem occurs when the reference is declared _before_ the variable it refers to:
+
+```rust,ignore
+let y: &i32;
+let x = 5;
+y = &x;
+
+println!("{}", y);
+```
+
+We get this error:
+
+```text
+error: `x` does not live long enough
+y = &x;
+     ^
+note: reference must be valid for the block suffix following statement 0 at
+2:16...
+    let y: &i32;
+    let x = 5;
+    y = &x;
+    
+    println!("{}", y);
+}
+
+note: ...but borrowed value is only valid for the block suffix following
+statement 1 at 3:14
+    let x = 5;
+    y = &x;
+    
+    println!("{}", y);
+}
+```
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