diff --git a/exist-core/src/main/java/org/exist/xquery/ContextItemDeclaration.java b/exist-core/src/main/java/org/exist/xquery/ContextItemDeclaration.java
index 475c892ba9..b3e26fede6 100644
--- a/exist-core/src/main/java/org/exist/xquery/ContextItemDeclaration.java
+++ b/exist-core/src/main/java/org/exist/xquery/ContextItemDeclaration.java
@@ -76,10 +76,16 @@ public Sequence eval(final Sequence contextSequence, final Item contextItem) thr
                 return null;
             }
         } else {
-            return value.get().eval(null, null);
+            final Sequence result = value.get().eval(null, null);
+            if (result.isEmpty() || result.hasMany()) {
+                throw new XPathException(this, ErrorCodes.XPTY0004, "The context item must be exactly one item");
+            } else {
+                return result;
+            }
         }
     }
 
+
     @Override
     public int returnsType() {
         return itemType.map(SequenceType::getPrimaryType)
diff --git a/exist-core/src/test/java/org/exist/xquery/XQueryDeclareContextItemTest.java b/exist-core/src/test/java/org/exist/xquery/XQueryDeclareContextItemTest.java
index 00d1d3d4b9..12b96876d6 100644
--- a/exist-core/src/test/java/org/exist/xquery/XQueryDeclareContextItemTest.java
+++ b/exist-core/src/test/java/org/exist/xquery/XQueryDeclareContextItemTest.java
@@ -79,8 +79,7 @@
 import java.util.Optional;
 import java.util.Properties;
 
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertNotNull;
+import static org.junit.Assert.*;
 
 /**
  * Tests for XQuery 3.0's declare context item
@@ -144,6 +143,22 @@ public void declareContextItem() throws EXistException, PermissionDeniedExceptio
         }
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void declareContextItemMoreThanOneItem() throws EXistException, PermissionDeniedException, XPathException, IOException {
+        final String query =
+                "xquery version \"3.0\";\n" +
+                "declare context item := (1,2); \n" +
+                ".";
+
+        final BrokerPool pool = existEmbeddedServer.getBrokerPool();
+        try (final DBBroker broker = pool.getBroker();
+             final XQueryUtil.QueryResult queryResult = XQueryUtil.query(broker, new StringSource(query), false, null, null, null, null, null)) {
+            fail("Expected XQuery error XPTY0004");
+        } catch (final XPathException e){
+            assertEquals(ErrorCodes.XPTY0004, e.getErrorCode());
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * See issue https://github.com/eXist-db/exist/issues/2156
      */