diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_app.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_app.c
index 8ce65d4276b12285524d8452f2a5ee5e1a94e47a..6aedef0ad433a11b833920177be2db4c396166e9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_app.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_app.c
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ struct nfp_app *nfp_app_alloc(struct nfp_pf *pf, enum nfp_app_id id)
 	struct nfp_app *app;
 
 	if (id >= ARRAY_SIZE(apps) || !apps[id]) {
-		nfp_err(pf->cpp, "failed to find app with ID 0x%02hhx\n", id);
+		nfp_err(pf->cpp, "unknown FW app ID 0x%02hhx, driver too old or support for FW not built in\n", id);
 		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
 	}