diff --git a/llvm/cmake/modules/LLVMProcessSources.cmake b/llvm/cmake/modules/LLVMProcessSources.cmake
index 340aa7b43eaed9..205089bd2704cb 100644
--- a/llvm/cmake/modules/LLVMProcessSources.cmake
+++ b/llvm/cmake/modules/LLVMProcessSources.cmake
@@ -113,7 +113,12 @@ function(llvm_check_source_file_list)
           else()
               set(fn_relative "${fn}")
           endif()
-          message(SEND_ERROR "Found unknown source file ${fn_relative}
+          message(SEND_ERROR "Found erroneous configuration for source file ${fn_relative}
+LLVM's build system enforces that all source files are added to a build target, \
+that exactly one build target exists in each directory, \
+and that this target lists all files in that directory. \
+If you want multiple targets in the same directory, add \
+PARTIAL_SOURCES_INTENDED to the target specification, though it is discouraged.
 Please update ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_FILE}\n")
         endif()
       endif()