diff --git a/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/Record.java b/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/Record.java
index f57bbb65a2c..6c81f09f282 100644
--- a/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/Record.java
+++ b/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/Record.java
@@ -46,20 +46,21 @@ package java.lang;
  * record components are declared in the record header.  The list of record
  * components declared in the record header form the <em>record descriptor</em>.
  *
- * <p>A record class has the following mandated members: a public <em>canonical
- * constructor</em>, whose descriptor is the same as the record descriptor;
+ * <p>A record class has the following mandated members: a <em>canonical
+ * constructor</em>, which must provide at least as much access as the record
+ * class and whose descriptor is the same as the record descriptor;
  * a private final field corresponding to each component, whose name and
  * type are the same as that of the component; a public accessor method
  * corresponding to each component, whose name and return type are the same as
  * that of the component.  If not explicitly declared in the body of the record,
  * implicit implementations for these members are provided.
  *
- * <p>The implicit declaration of the canonical constructor initializes the
- * component fields from the corresponding constructor arguments.  The implicit
- * declaration of the accessor methods returns the value of the corresponding
- * component field.  The implicit declaration of the {@link Object#equals(Object)},
- * {@link Object#hashCode()}, and {@link Object#toString()} methods are derived
- * from all of the component fields.
+ * <p>The implicit declaration of the canonical constructor has the same accessibility
+ * as the record class and initializes the component fields from the corresponding
+ * constructor arguments.  The implicit declaration of the accessor methods returns
+ * the value of the corresponding component field.  The implicit declaration of the
+ * {@link Object#equals(Object)}, {@link Object#hashCode()}, and {@link Object#toString()}
+ * methods are derived from all of the component fields.
  *
  * <p>The primary reasons to provide an explicit declaration for the
  * canonical constructor or accessor methods are to validate constructor