diff --git a/Documentation/block/null_blk.txt b/Documentation/block/null_blk.txt
index ea2dafe49ae8..4cad1024fff7 100644
--- a/Documentation/block/null_blk.txt
+++ b/Documentation/block/null_blk.txt
@@ -88,7 +88,8 @@ shared_tags=[0/1]: Default: 0
 
 zoned=[0/1]: Default: 0
   0: Block device is exposed as a random-access block device.
-  1: Block device is exposed as a host-managed zoned block device.
+  1: Block device is exposed as a host-managed zoned block device. Requires
+     CONFIG_BLK_DEV_ZONED.
 
 zone_size=[MB]: Default: 256
   Per zone size when exposed as a zoned block device. Must be a power of two.
diff --git a/drivers/block/null_blk.h b/drivers/block/null_blk.h
index b3df2793e7cd..34b22d6523ba 100644
--- a/drivers/block/null_blk.h
+++ b/drivers/block/null_blk.h
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ void null_zone_reset(struct nullb_cmd *cmd, sector_t sector);
 #else
 static inline int null_zone_init(struct nullb_device *dev)
 {
+	pr_err("null_blk: CONFIG_BLK_DEV_ZONED not enabled\n");
 	return -EINVAL;
 }
 static inline void null_zone_exit(struct nullb_device *dev) {}