diff --git a/lung_cancer_screening/nhsuk_forms/split_date_field.py b/lung_cancer_screening/nhsuk_forms/split_date_field.py
index 6ea21f1f..c755bad3 100644
--- a/lung_cancer_screening/nhsuk_forms/split_date_field.py
+++ b/lung_cancer_screening/nhsuk_forms/split_date_field.py
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         self.label_is_page_heading = kwargs.pop("label_is_page_heading", False)
         self.hint = kwargs.pop("hint", None)
 
-        day_bounds_error = gettext("Day should be between 1 and 31.")
-        month_bounds_error = gettext("Month should be between 1 and 12.")
+        day_bounds_error = kwargs.get("error_messages", {}).pop("day_bounds", gettext("Day should be between 1 and 31."))
+        month_bounds_error = kwargs.get("error_messages", {}).pop("month_bounds", gettext("Month should be between 1 and 12."))
         year_bounds_error = gettext(
             "Year should be between %(min_year)s and %(max_year)s."
         ) % {"min_year": min_value.year, "max_year": max_value.year}
diff --git a/lung_cancer_screening/questions/forms/date_of_birth_form.py b/lung_cancer_screening/questions/forms/date_of_birth_form.py
index 047ffea9..02a60907 100644
--- a/lung_cancer_screening/questions/forms/date_of_birth_form.py
+++ b/lung_cancer_screening/questions/forms/date_of_birth_form.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self.instance.participant = self.participant
 
+        invalid_error_message = 'Date of birth must be a real date'
         self.fields["date_of_birth"] = SplitDateField(
             max_value=date.today(),
             required=True,
@@ -20,7 +21,9 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
             error_messages={
                 'required': 'Enter your date of birth',
                 'incomplete': 'Enter your full date of birth',
-                'invalid': 'Date of birth must be a real date'
+                'invalid': invalid_error_message,
+                'day_bounds': invalid_error_message,
+                'month_bounds': invalid_error_message
             }
         )
 
diff --git a/tests/features/validation_errors.feature b/tests/features/validation_errors.feature
index f7234db1..e13f9210 100644
--- a/tests/features/validation_errors.feature
+++ b/tests/features/validation_errors.feature
@@ -5,6 +5,15 @@ Feature: Validation errors
     And I submit the form
     Then I am on "/date-of-birth"
     And I see a form error "Enter your date of birth"
+    When I fill in and submit my date of birth with "51-01-2001"
+    Then I am on "/date-of-birth"
+    And I see a form error "Date of birth must be a real date"
+    When I fill in and submit my date of birth with "01-13-2001"
+    Then I am on "/date-of-birth"
+    And I see a form error "Date of birth must be a real date"
+    When I fill in and submit my date of birth with "31-02-2001"
+    Then I am on "/date-of-birth"
+    And I see a form error "Date of birth must be a real date"
 
   Scenario: Height form errors
     Given I have started the questionnaire