diff --git a/lib/drmtest.c b/lib/drmtest.c
index 95df93f7..fc40ad12 100644
--- a/lib/drmtest.c
+++ b/lib/drmtest.c
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ int drm_open_any(void)
 
 		close(fd);
 	}
+	fprintf(stderr, "failed to open any drm device. retry as root?\n");
 	abort();
 }