diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile.config b/tools/perf/Makefile.config
index d66b52407e19..9da9f878f50f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile.config
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile.config
@@ -554,6 +554,8 @@ ifndef NO_LIBELF
     ifeq ($(feature-libdebuginfod), 1)
       CFLAGS += -DHAVE_DEBUGINFOD_SUPPORT
       EXTLIBS += -ldebuginfod
+    else
+      $(warning No elfutils/debuginfod.h found, no debuginfo server support, please install libdebuginfod-dev/elfutils-debuginfod-client-devel or equivalent)
     endif
   endif