diff --git a/compiler/rustc_attr/src/builtin.rs b/compiler/rustc_attr/src/builtin.rs
index ca4b3662a08..3ffb4b83f20 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_attr/src/builtin.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_attr/src/builtin.rs
@@ -846,7 +846,7 @@ pub fn find_deprecation(
                                 ),
                             );
                         } else {
-                            sess.emit_err(session_diagnostics::IncorrectMetaItem2 {
+                            sess.emit_err(session_diagnostics::IncorrectMetaItem {
                                 span: meta.span,
                             });
                         }
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_attr/src/session_diagnostics.rs b/compiler/rustc_attr/src/session_diagnostics.rs
index ee79545e304..86f27254db2 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_attr/src/session_diagnostics.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_attr/src/session_diagnostics.rs
@@ -165,15 +165,6 @@ pub(crate) struct MissingIssue {
     pub span: Span,
 }
 
-// FIXME: This diagnostic is identical to `IncorrectMetaItem`, barring the error code. Consider
-// changing this to `IncorrectMetaItem`. See #51489.
-#[derive(Diagnostic)]
-#[diag(attr_incorrect_meta_item, code = "E0551")]
-pub(crate) struct IncorrectMetaItem2 {
-    #[primary_span]
-    pub span: Span,
-}
-
 // FIXME: Why is this the same error code as `InvalidReprHintNoParen` and `InvalidReprHintNoValue`?
 // It is more similar to `IncorrectReprFormatGeneric`.
 #[derive(Diagnostic)]
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_error_codes/src/error_codes/E0551.md b/compiler/rustc_error_codes/src/error_codes/E0551.md
index 53db559a4fc..0e078fe71bf 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_error_codes/src/error_codes/E0551.md
+++ b/compiler/rustc_error_codes/src/error_codes/E0551.md
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
+#### Note: this error code is no longer emitted by the compiler
+
 An invalid meta-item was used inside an attribute.
 
 Erroneous code example:
 
-```compile_fail,E0551
+```compile_fail,E0539
 #[deprecated(note)] // error!
 fn i_am_deprecated() {}
 ```
diff --git a/tests/ui/deprecation/deprecation-sanity.stderr b/tests/ui/deprecation/deprecation-sanity.stderr
index 8b2b480d195..383212ad9b4 100644
--- a/tests/ui/deprecation/deprecation-sanity.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/deprecation/deprecation-sanity.stderr
@@ -16,25 +16,25 @@ error[E0541]: unknown meta item 'reason'
 LL |     #[deprecated(since = "a", note = "a", reason)]
    |                                           ^^^^^^ expected one of `since`, `note`
 
-error[E0551]: incorrect meta item
+error[E0539]: incorrect meta item
   --> $DIR/deprecation-sanity.rs:7:31
    |
 LL |     #[deprecated(since = "a", note)]
    |                               ^^^^
 
-error[E0551]: incorrect meta item
+error[E0539]: incorrect meta item
   --> $DIR/deprecation-sanity.rs:10:18
    |
 LL |     #[deprecated(since, note = "a")]
    |                  ^^^^^
 
-error[E0551]: incorrect meta item
+error[E0539]: incorrect meta item
   --> $DIR/deprecation-sanity.rs:13:31
    |
 LL |     #[deprecated(since = "a", note(b))]
    |                               ^^^^^^^
 
-error[E0551]: incorrect meta item
+error[E0539]: incorrect meta item
   --> $DIR/deprecation-sanity.rs:16:18
    |
 LL |     #[deprecated(since(b), note = "a")]
@@ -70,5 +70,5 @@ LL | #[deprecated = "hello"]
 
 error: aborting due to 10 previous errors
 
-Some errors have detailed explanations: E0538, E0541, E0551, E0565.
+Some errors have detailed explanations: E0538, E0539, E0541, E0565.
 For more information about an error, try `rustc --explain E0538`.