diff --git a/django/db/models/query.py b/django/db/models/query.py
index a5b0f464a9b..5ac2407ea36 100644
--- a/django/db/models/query.py
+++ b/django/db/models/query.py
@@ -1135,8 +1135,8 @@ class QuerySet(AltersData):
         self._not_support_combined_queries("delete")
         if self.query.is_sliced:
             raise TypeError("Cannot use 'limit' or 'offset' with delete().")
-        if self.query.distinct or self.query.distinct_fields:
-            raise TypeError("Cannot call delete() after .distinct().")
+        if self.query.distinct_fields:
+            raise TypeError("Cannot call delete() after .distinct(*fields).")
         if self._fields is not None:
             raise TypeError("Cannot call delete() after .values() or .values_list()")
 
diff --git a/tests/delete_regress/tests.py b/tests/delete_regress/tests.py
index 2540fd2802e..71e3bcb405f 100644
--- a/tests/delete_regress/tests.py
+++ b/tests/delete_regress/tests.py
@@ -396,10 +396,8 @@ class DeleteTests(TestCase):
 
 
 class DeleteDistinct(SimpleTestCase):
-    def test_disallowed_delete_distinct(self):
-        msg = "Cannot call delete() after .distinct()."
-        with self.assertRaisesMessage(TypeError, msg):
-            Book.objects.distinct().delete()
+    def test_disallowed_delete_distinct_on(self):
+        msg = "Cannot call delete() after .distinct(*fields)."
         with self.assertRaisesMessage(TypeError, msg):
             Book.objects.distinct("id").delete()