diff --git a/kvm-all.c b/kvm-all.c
index 2a717e5b50..3f7061a180 100644
--- a/kvm-all.c
+++ b/kvm-all.c
@@ -1544,8 +1544,17 @@ static int kvm_init(MachineState *ms)
                 strerror(-ret));
 
 #ifdef TARGET_S390X
-        fprintf(stderr, "Please add the 'switch_amode' kernel parameter to "
-                        "your host kernel command line\n");
+        if (ret == -EINVAL) {
+            fprintf(stderr,
+                    "Host kernel setup problem detected. Please verify:\n");
+            fprintf(stderr, "- for kernels supporting the switch_amode or"
+                    " user_mode parameters, whether\n");
+            fprintf(stderr,
+                    "  user space is running in primary address space\n");
+            fprintf(stderr,
+                    "- for kernels supporting the vm.allocate_pgste sysctl, "
+                    "whether it is enabled\n");
+        }
 #endif
         goto err;
     }