diff --git a/kernel/debug/kdb/kdb_bp.c b/kernel/debug/kdb/kdb_bp.c
index 20059ef4459a..8418c2f8ec5d 100644
--- a/kernel/debug/kdb/kdb_bp.c
+++ b/kernel/debug/kdb/kdb_bp.c
@@ -153,6 +153,13 @@ static int _kdb_bp_install(struct pt_regs *regs, kdb_bp_t *bp)
 	} else {
 		kdb_printf("%s: failed to set breakpoint at 0x%lx\n",
 			   __func__, bp->bp_addr);
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_RODATA
+		if (!bp->bp_type) {
+			kdb_printf("Software breakpoints are unavailable.\n"
+				   "  Change the kernel CONFIG_DEBUG_RODATA=n\n"
+				   "  OR use hw breaks: help bph\n");
+		}
+#endif
 		return 1;
 	}
 	return 0;