diff --git a/metrics_layer/core/model/view.py b/metrics_layer/core/model/view.py
index 578bed4..642dfa8 100644
--- a/metrics_layer/core/model/view.py
+++ b/metrics_layer/core/model/view.py
@@ -340,14 +340,23 @@ def collect_errors(self):
                             ),
                         )
                     )
-            except (AccessDeniedOrDoesNotExistException, QueryError):
+                # If the default date is not joinable to the view (or in the view itself),
+                # then we need to add an error
+                if field.view.name not in self.project.get_joinable_views(self.name) + [self.name]:
+                    errors.append(
+                        self._error(
+                            self._definition["default_date"],
+                            (
+                                f"Default date {self.default_date} in view {self.name} is not joinable to the"
+                                f" view {self.name}"
+                            ),
+                        )
+                    )
+            except (QueryError, AccessDeniedOrDoesNotExistException):
                 errors.append(
                     self._error(
                         self._definition["default_date"],
-                        (
-                            f"Default date {self.default_date} in view {self.name} is not joinable to the"
-                            f" view {self.name}"
-                        ),
+                        f"Default date {self.default_date} in view {self.name} does not exist.",
                     )
                 )
 
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index c06af27..b5917b2 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -471,13 +471,12 @@ def test_cli_validate(connection, fresh_project, mocker):
 
     # assert result.exit_code == 0
     assert (
-        result.output
-        == "Found 7 errors in the project:\n\n"
+        result.output == "Found 7 errors in the project:\n\n"
         "\nCould not locate reference revenue_dimension in field total_item_costs in view order_lines\n\n"
         "\nField total_item_costs in view order_lines contains invalid field reference revenue_dimension.\n\n"
         "\nCould not locate reference revenue_dimension in field revenue_in_cents in view orders\n\n"
         "\nCould not locate reference revenue_dimension in field total_revenue in view orders\n\n"
-        "\nDefault date sessions.session_date in view orders is not joinable to the view orders\n\n"
+        "\nDefault date sessions.session_date in view orders does not exist.\n\n"
         "\nField revenue_in_cents in view orders contains invalid field reference revenue_dimension.\n\n"
         "\nField total_revenue in view orders contains invalid field reference revenue_dimension.\n\n"
     )
@@ -500,8 +499,7 @@ def test_cli_validate_broken_canon_date(connection, fresh_project, mocker):
 
     assert result.exit_code == 0
     assert (
-        result.output
-        == "Found 1 error in the project:\n\n"
+        result.output == "Found 1 error in the project:\n\n"
         "\nCanon date customers.does_not_exist is unreachable in field total_sessions.\n\n"
     )
 
@@ -758,8 +756,7 @@ def test_cli_validate_model_name_in_view(connection, fresh_project, mocker):
 
     assert result.exit_code == 0
     assert (
-        result.output
-        == "Found 1 error in the project:\n\n"
+        result.output == "Found 1 error in the project:\n\n"
         "\nCould not find a model in the view orders. Use the model_name property to specify the model.\n\n"
     )
 
@@ -802,8 +799,7 @@ def test_cli_dashboard_model_does_not_exist(connection, fresh_project, mocker):
 
     assert result.exit_code == 0
     assert (
-        result.output
-        == "Found 1 error in the project:\n\n"
+        result.output == "Found 1 error in the project:\n\n"
         "\nCould not find or you do not have access to model missing_model in dashboard sales_dashboard\n\n"
     )
 
@@ -824,8 +820,7 @@ def test_cli_canon_date_inaccessible(connection, fresh_project, mocker):
 
     assert result.exit_code == 0
     assert (
-        result.output
-        == "Found 1 error in the project:\n\n"
+        result.output == "Found 1 error in the project:\n\n"
         "\nCanon date orders.missing_field is unreachable in field total_revenue.\n\n"
     )
 
@@ -910,8 +905,7 @@ def test_cli_duplicate_field_names(connection, fresh_project, mocker):
 
     assert result.exit_code == 0
     assert (
-        result.output
-        == "Found 1 error in the project:\n\n"
+        result.output == "Found 1 error in the project:\n\n"
         "\nDuplicate field names in view customers: number_of_customers\n\n"
     )
 
diff --git a/tests/test_project_validation.py b/tests/test_project_validation.py
index 131fa10..d511bdd 100644
--- a/tests/test_project_validation.py
+++ b/tests/test_project_validation.py
@@ -611,10 +611,15 @@ def test_validation_with_replaced_model_properties(connection, name, value, erro
             1,
             ["The default_date property, 1 must be a string in the view order_lines"],
         ),
+        (
+            "default_date",
+            "sessions.session",
+            ["Default date sessions.session in view order_lines is not joinable to the view order_lines"],
+        ),
         (
             "default_date",
             "fake",
-            ["Default date fake in view order_lines is not joinable to the view order_lines"],
+            ["Default date fake in view order_lines does not exist."],
         ),
         ("row_label", None, ["The row_label property, None must be a string in the view order_lines"]),
         ("row_label", "Hello", []),