diff --git a/exp-drd/drd_barrier.c b/exp-drd/drd_barrier.c
index dc7b46dde..0d5f053cf 100644
--- a/exp-drd/drd_barrier.c
+++ b/exp-drd/drd_barrier.c
@@ -261,6 +261,16 @@ void barrier_pre_wait(const DrdThreadId tid, const Addr barrier,
   const UWord word_tid = tid;
 
   p = barrier_get(barrier);
+  if (p == 0 && barrier_type == gomp_barrier)
+  {
+    VG_(message)(Vg_UserMsg, "");
+    VG_(message)(Vg_UserMsg,
+                 "Please verify whether gcc has been configured"
+                 " with option --disable-linux-futex.");
+    VG_(message)(Vg_UserMsg,
+                 "See also the section about OpenMP in the DRD manual.");
+    VG_(message)(Vg_UserMsg, "");
+  }
   tl_assert(p);
 
   if (s_trace_barrier)