diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile.config b/tools/perf/Makefile.config
index a4829b6532d8..44f010b9f562 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile.config
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile.config
@@ -1206,6 +1206,8 @@ ifneq ($(NO_LIBTRACEEVENT),1)
     LIBTRACEFS_VERSION_3 := $(word 3, $(subst ., ,$(LIBTRACEFS_VERSION)))
     LIBTRACEFS_VERSION_CPP := $(shell expr $(LIBTRACEFS_VERSION_1) \* 255 \* 255 + $(LIBTRACEFS_VERSION_2) \* 255 + $(LIBTRACEFS_VERSION_3))
     CFLAGS += -DLIBTRACEFS_VERSION=$(LIBTRACEFS_VERSION_CPP)
+  else
+    $(warning libtracefs is missing. Please install libtracefs-dev/libtracefs-devel)
   endif
 endif