diff --git a/Lib/enum.py b/Lib/enum.py
index 8efc38c3d78dbc..ad24fa118f6fa1 100644
--- a/Lib/enum.py
+++ b/Lib/enum.py
@@ -767,7 +767,7 @@ def _create_(cls, class_name, names, *, module=None, qualname=None, type=None, s
         """
         metacls = cls.__class__
         bases = (cls, ) if type is None else (type, cls)
-        _, first_enum = cls._get_mixins_(cls, bases)
+        _, first_enum = cls._get_mixins_(class_name, bases)
         classdict = metacls.__prepare__(class_name, bases)
 
         # special processing needed for names?
@@ -852,8 +852,8 @@ def _check_for_existing_members(class_name, bases):
                             % (class_name, base.__name__)
                             )
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def _get_mixins_(class_name, bases):
+    @classmethod
+    def _get_mixins_(cls, class_name, bases):
         """
         Returns the type for creating enum members, and the first inherited
         enum class.
@@ -894,9 +894,8 @@ def _find_data_type(bases):
         if not issubclass(first_enum, Enum):
             raise TypeError("new enumerations should be created as "
                     "`EnumName([mixin_type, ...] [data_type,] enum_type)`")
+        cls._check_for_existing_members(class_name, bases)
         member_type = _find_data_type(bases) or object
-        if first_enum._member_names_:
-            raise TypeError("Cannot extend enumerations")
         return member_type, first_enum
 
     @staticmethod
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_enum.py b/Lib/test/test_enum.py
index eecb9fd4835c40..22737700fa3103 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_enum.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_enum.py
@@ -1423,6 +1423,8 @@ class MoreColor(Color):
         with self.assertRaisesRegex(TypeError, "EvenMoreColor: cannot extend enumeration 'Color'"):
             class EvenMoreColor(Color, IntEnum):
                 chartruese = 7
+        with self.assertRaisesRegex(TypeError, "Foo: cannot extend enumeration 'Color'"):
+            Color('Foo', ('pink', 'black'))
 
     def test_exclude_methods(self):
         class whatever(Enum):
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2022-01-03-16-25-06.bpo-46242.f4l_CL.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2022-01-03-16-25-06.bpo-46242.f4l_CL.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..6a5b5fdffda40b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2022-01-03-16-25-06.bpo-46242.f4l_CL.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Improve error message when creating a new :class:`enum.Enum` type subclassing an existing ``Enum`` with ``_member_names_`` using :meth:`enum.Enum.__call__`.