diff --git a/django/contrib/admin/checks.py b/django/contrib/admin/checks.py
index c74e8b96c25..62cce24af64 100644
--- a/django/contrib/admin/checks.py
+++ b/django/contrib/admin/checks.py
@@ -774,8 +774,15 @@ class ModelAdminChecks(BaseModelAdminChecks):
                                           model=model, obj=cls, id='admin.E121')
         else:
             if field_name not in cls.list_display:
-                return refer_to_missing_field(field=field_name, option=label,
-                                              model=model, obj=cls, id='admin.E122')
+                return [
+                    checks.Error(
+                        "The value of '%s' refers to '%s', which is not "
+                        "contained in 'list_display'." % (label, field_name),
+                        hint=None,
+                        obj=cls,
+                        id='admin.E122',
+                    )
+                ]
             elif cls.list_display_links and field_name in cls.list_display_links:
                 return [
                     checks.Error(
diff --git a/tests/admin_checks/tests.py b/tests/admin_checks/tests.py
index 0b4d905c1be..84f4439fe27 100644
--- a/tests/admin_checks/tests.py
+++ b/tests/admin_checks/tests.py
@@ -69,6 +69,22 @@ class SystemChecksTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
             custom_site.unregister(Song)
             admin.sites.system_check_errors = []
 
+    def test_field_name_not_in_list_display(self):
+        class SongAdmin(admin.ModelAdmin):
+            list_editable = ["original_release"]
+
+        errors = SongAdmin.check(model=Song)
+        expected = [
+            checks.Error(
+                "The value of 'list_editable[0]' refers to 'original_release', "
+                "which is not contained in 'list_display'.",
+                hint=None,
+                obj=SongAdmin,
+                id='admin.E122',
+            )
+        ]
+        self.assertEqual(errors, expected)
+
     def test_readonly_and_editable(self):
         class SongAdmin(admin.ModelAdmin):
             readonly_fields = ["original_release"]