diff --git a/drivers/base/power/runtime.c b/drivers/base/power/runtime.c
index b74690418504..e7ee8293055b 100644
--- a/drivers/base/power/runtime.c
+++ b/drivers/base/power/runtime.c
@@ -1045,10 +1045,14 @@ int __pm_runtime_set_status(struct device *dev, unsigned int status)
 		 */
 		if (!parent->power.disable_depth
 		    && !parent->power.ignore_children
-		    && parent->power.runtime_status != RPM_ACTIVE)
+		    && parent->power.runtime_status != RPM_ACTIVE) {
+			dev_err(dev, "runtime PM trying to activate child device %s but parent (%s) is not active\n",
+				dev_name(dev),
+				dev_name(parent));
 			error = -EBUSY;
-		else if (dev->power.runtime_status == RPM_SUSPENDED)
+		} else if (dev->power.runtime_status == RPM_SUSPENDED) {
 			atomic_inc(&parent->power.child_count);
+		}
 
 		spin_unlock(&parent->power.lock);