diff --git a/internal/evaluator/builder.go b/internal/evaluator/builder.go
index 1057cf9..4264b01 100644
--- a/internal/evaluator/builder.go
+++ b/internal/evaluator/builder.go
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ func (bldr *Builder) processIgnoreEmpty(
 func (bldr *Builder) processFieldExpressions(
 	fieldDesc protoreflect.FieldDescriptor,
 	fieldConstraints *validate.FieldConstraints,
-	_ bool,
+	forItems bool,
 	eval *value,
 	_ MessageCache,
 ) error {
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ func (bldr *Builder) processFieldExpressions(
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	celTyp := celext.ProtoFieldToCELType(fieldDesc, false, false)
+	celTyp := celext.ProtoFieldToCELType(fieldDesc, false, forItems)
 	opts := append(
 		celext.RequiredCELEnvOptions(fieldDesc),
 		cel.Variable("this", celTyp),
diff --git a/internal/gen/tests/example/v1/validations.pb.go b/internal/gen/tests/example/v1/validations.pb.go
index 0669b72..6ad6264 100644
--- a/internal/gen/tests/example/v1/validations.pb.go
+++ b/internal/gen/tests/example/v1/validations.pb.go
@@ -699,6 +699,53 @@ func (x *CelMapOnARepeated) GetValues() []*CelMapOnARepeated_Value {
 	return nil
 }
 
+type RepeatedItemCel struct {
+	state         protoimpl.MessageState
+	sizeCache     protoimpl.SizeCache
+	unknownFields protoimpl.UnknownFields
+
+	Paths []string `protobuf:"bytes,1,rep,name=paths,proto3" json:"paths,omitempty"`
+}
+
+func (x *RepeatedItemCel) Reset() {
+	*x = RepeatedItemCel{}
+	if protoimpl.UnsafeEnabled {
+		mi := &file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_msgTypes[12]
+		ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
+		ms.StoreMessageInfo(mi)
+	}
+}
+
+func (x *RepeatedItemCel) String() string {
+	return protoimpl.X.MessageStringOf(x)
+}
+
+func (*RepeatedItemCel) ProtoMessage() {}
+
+func (x *RepeatedItemCel) ProtoReflect() protoreflect.Message {
+	mi := &file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_msgTypes[12]
+	if protoimpl.UnsafeEnabled && x != nil {
+		ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
+		if ms.LoadMessageInfo() == nil {
+			ms.StoreMessageInfo(mi)
+		}
+		return ms
+	}
+	return mi.MessageOf(x)
+}
+
+// Deprecated: Use RepeatedItemCel.ProtoReflect.Descriptor instead.
+func (*RepeatedItemCel) Descriptor() ([]byte, []int) {
+	return file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_rawDescGZIP(), []int{12}
+}
+
+func (x *RepeatedItemCel) GetPaths() []string {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Paths
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 type CelMapOnARepeated_Value struct {
 	state         protoimpl.MessageState
 	sizeCache     protoimpl.SizeCache
@@ -710,7 +757,7 @@ type CelMapOnARepeated_Value struct {
 func (x *CelMapOnARepeated_Value) Reset() {
 	*x = CelMapOnARepeated_Value{}
 	if protoimpl.UnsafeEnabled {
-		mi := &file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_msgTypes[15]
+		mi := &file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_msgTypes[16]
 		ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
 		ms.StoreMessageInfo(mi)
 	}
@@ -723,7 +770,7 @@ func (x *CelMapOnARepeated_Value) String() string {
 func (*CelMapOnARepeated_Value) ProtoMessage() {}
 
 func (x *CelMapOnARepeated_Value) ProtoReflect() protoreflect.Message {
-	mi := &file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_msgTypes[15]
+	mi := &file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_msgTypes[16]
 	if protoimpl.UnsafeEnabled && x != nil {
 		ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
 		if ms.LoadMessageInfo() == nil {
@@ -902,21 +949,27 @@ var file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_rawDesc = []byte{
 	0x75, 0x73, 0x74, 0x20, 0x62, 0x65, 0x20, 0x75, 0x6e, 0x69, 0x71, 0x75, 0x65, 0x27, 0x52, 0x06,
 	0x76, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x75, 0x65, 0x73, 0x1a, 0x1b, 0x0a, 0x05, 0x56, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x75, 0x65, 0x12,
 	0x12, 0x0a, 0x04, 0x6e, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x04, 0x6e,
-	0x61, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x42, 0xd8, 0x01, 0x0a, 0x14, 0x63, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x2e, 0x74, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74,
-	0x73, 0x2e, 0x65, 0x78, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x2e, 0x76, 0x31, 0x42, 0x10, 0x56, 0x61,
-	0x6c, 0x69, 0x64, 0x61, 0x74, 0x69, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x50, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x50, 0x01,
-	0x5a, 0x4c, 0x67, 0x69, 0x74, 0x68, 0x75, 0x62, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x2f, 0x62, 0x75, 0x66,
-	0x62, 0x75, 0x69, 0x6c, 0x64, 0x2f, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x76, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x69, 0x64,
-	0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x2d, 0x67, 0x6f, 0x2f, 0x69, 0x6e, 0x74, 0x65, 0x72, 0x6e, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x2f,
-	0x67, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x2f, 0x74, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2f, 0x65, 0x78, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x6c,
-	0x65, 0x2f, 0x76, 0x31, 0x3b, 0x65, 0x78, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x76, 0x31, 0xa2, 0x02,
-	0x03, 0x54, 0x45, 0x58, 0xaa, 0x02, 0x10, 0x54, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x45, 0x78, 0x61,
-	0x6d, 0x70, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x2e, 0x56, 0x31, 0xca, 0x02, 0x10, 0x54, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x73, 0x5c,
-	0x45, 0x78, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x5c, 0x56, 0x31, 0xe2, 0x02, 0x1c, 0x54, 0x65, 0x73,
-	0x74, 0x73, 0x5c, 0x45, 0x78, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x5c, 0x56, 0x31, 0x5c, 0x47, 0x50,
-	0x42, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x74, 0x61, 0x64, 0x61, 0x74, 0x61, 0xea, 0x02, 0x12, 0x54, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74,
-	0x73, 0x3a, 0x3a, 0x45, 0x78, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x3a, 0x3a, 0x56, 0x31, 0x62, 0x06,
-	0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x33,
+	0x61, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x22, 0x5b, 0x0a, 0x0f, 0x52, 0x65, 0x70, 0x65, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65, 0x64, 0x49,
+	0x74, 0x65, 0x6d, 0x43, 0x65, 0x6c, 0x12, 0x48, 0x0a, 0x05, 0x70, 0x61, 0x74, 0x68, 0x73, 0x18,
+	0x01, 0x20, 0x03, 0x28, 0x09, 0x42, 0x32, 0xba, 0x48, 0x2f, 0x92, 0x01, 0x2c, 0x22, 0x2a, 0xba,
+	0x01, 0x27, 0x0a, 0x0e, 0x70, 0x61, 0x74, 0x68, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x6e, 0x6f, 0x5f, 0x73, 0x70, 0x61,
+	0x63, 0x65, 0x1a, 0x15, 0x21, 0x74, 0x68, 0x69, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x73, 0x74, 0x61, 0x72, 0x74, 0x73,
+	0x57, 0x69, 0x74, 0x68, 0x28, 0x27, 0x20, 0x27, 0x29, 0x52, 0x05, 0x70, 0x61, 0x74, 0x68, 0x73,
+	0x42, 0xd8, 0x01, 0x0a, 0x14, 0x63, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x2e, 0x74, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x65,
+	0x78, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x2e, 0x76, 0x31, 0x42, 0x10, 0x56, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x69, 0x64,
+	0x61, 0x74, 0x69, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x50, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x50, 0x01, 0x5a, 0x4c, 0x67,
+	0x69, 0x74, 0x68, 0x75, 0x62, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x2f, 0x62, 0x75, 0x66, 0x62, 0x75, 0x69,
+	0x6c, 0x64, 0x2f, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x76, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x69, 0x64, 0x61, 0x74, 0x65,
+	0x2d, 0x67, 0x6f, 0x2f, 0x69, 0x6e, 0x74, 0x65, 0x72, 0x6e, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x2f, 0x67, 0x65, 0x6e,
+	0x2f, 0x74, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2f, 0x65, 0x78, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x2f, 0x76,
+	0x31, 0x3b, 0x65, 0x78, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x76, 0x31, 0xa2, 0x02, 0x03, 0x54, 0x45,
+	0x58, 0xaa, 0x02, 0x10, 0x54, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x73, 0x2e, 0x45, 0x78, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x6c,
+	0x65, 0x2e, 0x56, 0x31, 0xca, 0x02, 0x10, 0x54, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x73, 0x5c, 0x45, 0x78, 0x61,
+	0x6d, 0x70, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x5c, 0x56, 0x31, 0xe2, 0x02, 0x1c, 0x54, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x73, 0x5c,
+	0x45, 0x78, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x5c, 0x56, 0x31, 0x5c, 0x47, 0x50, 0x42, 0x4d, 0x65,
+	0x74, 0x61, 0x64, 0x61, 0x74, 0x61, 0xea, 0x02, 0x12, 0x54, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x73, 0x3a, 0x3a,
+	0x45, 0x78, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x3a, 0x3a, 0x56, 0x31, 0x62, 0x06, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f,
+	0x74, 0x6f, 0x33,
 }
 
 var (
@@ -931,7 +984,7 @@ func file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_rawDescGZIP() []byte {
 	return file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_rawDescData
 }
 
-var file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_msgTypes = make([]protoimpl.MessageInfo, 16)
+var file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_msgTypes = make([]protoimpl.MessageInfo, 17)
 var file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_goTypes = []interface{}{
 	(*HasMsgExprs)(nil),                             // 0: tests.example.v1.HasMsgExprs
 	(*SelfRecursive)(nil),                           // 1: tests.example.v1.SelfRecursive
@@ -945,13 +998,14 @@ var file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_goTypes = []interface{}{
 	(*Simple)(nil),                                  // 9: tests.example.v1.Simple
 	(*FieldOfTypeAny)(nil),                          // 10: tests.example.v1.FieldOfTypeAny
 	(*CelMapOnARepeated)(nil),                       // 11: tests.example.v1.CelMapOnARepeated
-	nil,                                             // 12: tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.Int32mapEntry
-	nil,                                             // 13: tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.StringMapEntry
-	nil,                                             // 14: tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.MessageMapEntry
-	(*CelMapOnARepeated_Value)(nil),                 // 15: tests.example.v1.CelMapOnARepeated.Value
-	(*fieldmaskpb.FieldMask)(nil),                   // 16: google.protobuf.FieldMask
-	(*apipb.Api)(nil),                               // 17: google.protobuf.Api
-	(*anypb.Any)(nil),                               // 18: google.protobuf.Any
+	(*RepeatedItemCel)(nil),                         // 12: tests.example.v1.RepeatedItemCel
+	nil,                                             // 13: tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.Int32mapEntry
+	nil,                                             // 14: tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.StringMapEntry
+	nil,                                             // 15: tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.MessageMapEntry
+	(*CelMapOnARepeated_Value)(nil),                 // 16: tests.example.v1.CelMapOnARepeated.Value
+	(*fieldmaskpb.FieldMask)(nil),                   // 17: google.protobuf.FieldMask
+	(*apipb.Api)(nil),                               // 18: google.protobuf.Api
+	(*anypb.Any)(nil),                               // 19: google.protobuf.Any
 }
 var file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_depIdxs = []int32{
 	1,  // 0: tests.example.v1.SelfRecursive.turtle:type_name -> tests.example.v1.SelfRecursive
@@ -959,13 +1013,13 @@ var file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_depIdxs = []int32{
 	2,  // 2: tests.example.v1.LoopRecursiveB.a:type_name -> tests.example.v1.LoopRecursiveA
 	0,  // 3: tests.example.v1.MsgHasOneof.msg:type_name -> tests.example.v1.HasMsgExprs
 	0,  // 4: tests.example.v1.MsgHasRepeated.z:type_name -> tests.example.v1.HasMsgExprs
-	12, // 5: tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.int32map:type_name -> tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.Int32mapEntry
-	13, // 6: tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.string_map:type_name -> tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.StringMapEntry
-	14, // 7: tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.message_map:type_name -> tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.MessageMapEntry
-	16, // 8: tests.example.v1.TransitiveFieldConstraint.mask:type_name -> google.protobuf.FieldMask
-	17, // 9: tests.example.v1.MultipleStepsTransitiveFieldConstraints.api:type_name -> google.protobuf.Api
-	18, // 10: tests.example.v1.FieldOfTypeAny.any:type_name -> google.protobuf.Any
-	15, // 11: tests.example.v1.CelMapOnARepeated.values:type_name -> tests.example.v1.CelMapOnARepeated.Value
+	13, // 5: tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.int32map:type_name -> tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.Int32mapEntry
+	14, // 6: tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.string_map:type_name -> tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.StringMapEntry
+	15, // 7: tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.message_map:type_name -> tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.MessageMapEntry
+	17, // 8: tests.example.v1.TransitiveFieldConstraint.mask:type_name -> google.protobuf.FieldMask
+	18, // 9: tests.example.v1.MultipleStepsTransitiveFieldConstraints.api:type_name -> google.protobuf.Api
+	19, // 10: tests.example.v1.FieldOfTypeAny.any:type_name -> google.protobuf.Any
+	16, // 11: tests.example.v1.CelMapOnARepeated.values:type_name -> tests.example.v1.CelMapOnARepeated.Value
 	2,  // 12: tests.example.v1.MsgHasMap.MessageMapEntry.value:type_name -> tests.example.v1.LoopRecursiveA
 	13, // [13:13] is the sub-list for method output_type
 	13, // [13:13] is the sub-list for method input_type
@@ -1124,7 +1178,19 @@ func file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_init() {
 				return nil
 			}
 		}
-		file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_msgTypes[15].Exporter = func(v interface{}, i int) interface{} {
+		file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_msgTypes[12].Exporter = func(v interface{}, i int) interface{} {
+			switch v := v.(*RepeatedItemCel); i {
+			case 0:
+				return &v.state
+			case 1:
+				return &v.sizeCache
+			case 2:
+				return &v.unknownFields
+			default:
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+		file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_msgTypes[16].Exporter = func(v interface{}, i int) interface{} {
 			switch v := v.(*CelMapOnARepeated_Value); i {
 			case 0:
 				return &v.state
@@ -1148,7 +1214,7 @@ func file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_init() {
 			GoPackagePath: reflect.TypeOf(x{}).PkgPath(),
 			RawDescriptor: file_tests_example_v1_validations_proto_rawDesc,
 			NumEnums:      0,
-			NumMessages:   16,
+			NumMessages:   17,
 			NumExtensions: 0,
 			NumServices:   0,
 		},
diff --git a/proto/tests/example/v1/validations.proto b/proto/tests/example/v1/validations.proto
index b6f0507..e10842a 100644
--- a/proto/tests/example/v1/validations.proto
+++ b/proto/tests/example/v1/validations.proto
@@ -165,3 +165,10 @@ message CelMapOnARepeated {
     string name = 1;
   }
 }
+
+message RepeatedItemCel {
+  repeated string paths = 1 [(buf.validate.field).repeated.items.cel = {
+    id: "paths.no_space",
+    expression: "!this.startsWith(' ')"
+  }];
+}
diff --git a/validator_test.go b/validator_test.go
index 5944843..10b631d 100644
--- a/validator_test.go
+++ b/validator_test.go
@@ -184,3 +184,17 @@ func TestValidator_Validate_CelMapOnARepeated(t *testing.T) {
 	valErr := &ValidationError{}
 	assert.ErrorAs(t, err, &valErr)
 }
+
+func TestValidator_Validate_RepeatedItemCel(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	val, err := New()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	msg := &pb.RepeatedItemCel{Paths: []string{"foo"}}
+	err = val.Validate(msg)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	msg.Paths = append(msg.Paths, " bar")
+	err = val.Validate(msg)
+	valErr := &ValidationError{}
+	assert.ErrorAs(t, err, &valErr)
+	assert.Equal(t, "paths.no_space", valErr.Violations[0].ConstraintId)
+}