diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Typer.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Typer.scala
index 389cd306fc02..80381f42ac1a 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Typer.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Typer.scala
@@ -3126,6 +3126,10 @@ class Typer(@constructorOnly nestingLevel: Int = 0) extends Namer
     if sym.isConstructor then
       if sym.is(Inline) then
         report.error("constructors cannot be `inline`", ddef)
+
+      if sym.targetName != sym.name then
+        report.error(em"@targetName annotation may not be used on a constructor", ddef.srcPos)
+
       if sym.isPrimaryConstructor then
         if sym.owner.is(Case) then
           for
@@ -3135,9 +3139,6 @@ class Typer(@constructorOnly nestingLevel: Int = 0) extends Namer
             if defn.isContextFunctionType(param.tpt.tpe) then
               report.error("case class element cannot be a context function", param.srcPos)
       else
-        if sym.targetName != sym.name then
-          report.error(em"@targetName annotation may not be used on a constructor", ddef.srcPos)
-
         for params <- paramss1; param <- params do
           checkRefsLegal(param, sym.owner, (name, sym) => sym.is(TypeParam), "secondary constructor")
 
diff --git a/tests/neg/i24681.check b/tests/neg/i24681.check
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..8eebab0c421c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/neg/i24681.check
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+-- Error: tests/neg/i24681.scala:3:9 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+3 |class Foo @targetName("bla") () // error
+  |         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+  |         @targetName annotation may not be used on a constructor
diff --git a/tests/neg/i24681.scala b/tests/neg/i24681.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a5d6d05b4bb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/neg/i24681.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+import scala.annotation.targetName
+
+class Foo @targetName("bla") () // error