diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/watchdog/watchdog-test.c b/tools/testing/selftests/watchdog/watchdog-test.c
index 6e290874b70e..e029e2017280 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/watchdog/watchdog-test.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/watchdog/watchdog-test.c
@@ -89,7 +89,13 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	fd = open("/dev/watchdog", O_WRONLY);
 
 	if (fd == -1) {
-		printf("Watchdog device not enabled.\n");
+		if (errno == ENOENT)
+			printf("Watchdog device not enabled.\n");
+		else if (errno == EACCES)
+			printf("Run watchdog as root.\n");
+		else
+			printf("Watchdog device open failed %s\n",
+				strerror(errno));
 		exit(-1);
 	}