This error indicates that you are trying to borrow a variable as mutable when it has already been borrowed as immutable. Erroneous code example: ```compile_fail,E0502 fn bar(x: &mut i32) {} fn foo(a: &mut i32) { let ref y = a; // a is borrowed as immutable. bar(a); // error: cannot borrow `*a` as mutable because `a` is also borrowed // as immutable println!("{}", y); } ``` To fix this error, ensure that you don't have any other references to the variable before trying to access it mutably: ``` fn bar(x: &mut i32) {} fn foo(a: &mut i32) { bar(a); let ref y = a; // ok! println!("{}", y); } ``` For more information on the rust ownership system, take a look at https://doc.rust-lang.org/book/ch04-02-references-and-borrowing.html.