diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile.config b/tools/perf/Makefile.config
index 406a9519145e..829e0498bd51 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile.config
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile.config
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ endif
 ifdef BUILD_BPF_SKEL
   $(call feature_check,clang-bpf-co-re)
   ifeq ($(feature-clang-bpf-co-re), 0)
-    dummy := $(error Error: clang too old. Please install recent clang)
+    dummy := $(error Error: clang too old/not installed. Please install recent clang to build with BUILD_BPF_SKEL)
   endif
   $(call detected,CONFIG_PERF_BPF_SKEL)
   CFLAGS += -DHAVE_BPF_SKEL