diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-data.c b/tools/perf/builtin-data.c
index 0adb5f8..46cd849 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-data.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-data.c
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ static int cmd_data_convert(int argc, const char **argv)
 	};
 
 #ifndef HAVE_LIBBABELTRACE_SUPPORT
-	pr_err("No conversion support compiled in.\n");
+	pr_err("No conversion support compiled in. perf should be compiled with environment variables LIBBABELTRACE=1 and LIBBABELTRACE_DIR=/path/to/libbabeltrace/\n");
 	return -1;
 #endif