diff --git a/src/cmd/go/internal/modload/init.go b/src/cmd/go/internal/modload/init.go
index 7da2bebdb8..06be18405d 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/internal/modload/init.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/internal/modload/init.go
@@ -718,7 +718,11 @@ func LoadModFile(ctx context.Context) *Requirements {
 		var fixed bool
 		data, f, err := ReadModFile(gomod, fixVersion(ctx, &fixed))
 		if err != nil {
-			base.Fatalf("go: %v", err)
+			if inWorkspaceMode() {
+				base.Fatalf("go: cannot load module listed in go.work file: %v", err)
+			} else {
+				base.Fatalf("go: %v", err)
+			}
 		}
 
 		modFiles = append(modFiles, f)
diff --git a/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/work_use_issue55952.txt b/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/work_use_issue55952.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2eef36199d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/work_use_issue55952.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+! go list .
+stderr '^go: cannot load module listed in go\.work file: open .+go\.mod:'
+
+-- go.work --
+use ./y
+-- x/go.mod --
+module x
+
+go 1.19
+-- x/m.go --
+package m