diff --git a/transport/ServiceManagement.cpp b/transport/ServiceManagement.cpp
index a5ad23e..78c1e96 100644
--- a/transport/ServiceManagement.cpp
+++ b/transport/ServiceManagement.cpp
@@ -324,6 +324,11 @@
 
         if (!isHwServiceManagerInstalled()) {
             // hwservicemanager is not available on this device.
+            LOG(WARNING)
+                    << "hwservicemanager is not installed on the device. If HIDL support "
+                    << "is still needed, hwservicemanager and android.hidl.allocator@1.0-service "
+                    << "need to be added to the device's PRODUCT_PACKAGES and the kernel config "
+                    << "needs to have 'hwbinder' in CONFIG_ANDROID_BINDER_DEVICES.";
             gDefaultServiceManager = sp<NoHwServiceManager>::make();
             return gDefaultServiceManager;
         }