diff --git a/sys/conf/Makefile.alpha b/sys/conf/Makefile.alpha
index 12d899e5656..87559cee5ff 100644
--- a/sys/conf/Makefile.alpha
+++ b/sys/conf/Makefile.alpha
@@ -259,6 +259,14 @@ kernel-tags:
 	sed -e 's,      ../,    ,' tags > tags1
 
 kernel-install kernel-install.debug:
+	@if [ ! -f ${DESTDIR}/boot/device.hints ] ; then \
+		echo "You must set up a /boot/device.hints file first." ; \
+		exit 1 ; \
+	fi
+	@if [ x"`grep device.hints /boot/defaults/loader.conf /boot/loader.conf`" = "x" ]; then \
+		echo "You must activate /boot/device.hints in loader.conf." ; \
+		exit 1 ; \
+	fi
 	@if [ ! -f ${KERNEL}${.TARGET:S/kernel-install//} ] ; then \
 		echo "You must build a kernel first." ; \
 		exit 1 ; \
diff --git a/sys/conf/Makefile.i386 b/sys/conf/Makefile.i386
index deb6eccf5d9..8bbb953659f 100644
--- a/sys/conf/Makefile.i386
+++ b/sys/conf/Makefile.i386
@@ -214,6 +214,14 @@ kernel-tags:
 	sed -e 's,      ../,    ,' tags > tags1
 
 kernel-install kernel-install.debug:
+	@if [ ! -f ${DESTDIR}/boot/device.hints ] ; then \
+		echo "You must set up a /boot/device.hints file first." ; \
+		exit 1 ; \
+	fi
+	@if [ x"`grep device.hints /boot/defaults/loader.conf /boot/loader.conf`" = "x" ]; then \
+		echo "You must activate /boot/device.hints in loader.conf." ; \
+		exit 1 ; \
+	fi
 	@if [ ! -f ${KERNEL}${.TARGET:S/kernel-install//} ] ; then \
 		echo "You must build a kernel first." ; \
 		exit 1 ; \
diff --git a/sys/conf/Makefile.pc98 b/sys/conf/Makefile.pc98
index 28b6ce8140b..2f52ccb0ef4 100644
--- a/sys/conf/Makefile.pc98
+++ b/sys/conf/Makefile.pc98
@@ -217,6 +217,14 @@ kernel-tags:
 	sed -e 's,      ../,    ,' tags > tags1
 
 kernel-install kernel-install.debug:
+	@if [ ! -f ${DESTDIR}/boot/device.hints ] ; then \
+		echo "You must set up a /boot/device.hints file first." ; \
+		exit 1 ; \
+	fi
+	@if [ x"`grep device.hints /boot/defaults/loader.conf /boot/loader.conf`" = "x" ]; then \
+		echo "You must activate /boot/device.hints in loader.conf." ; \
+		exit 1 ; \
+	fi
 	@if [ ! -f ${KERNEL}${.TARGET:S/kernel-install//} ] ; then \
 		echo "You must build a kernel first." ; \
 		exit 1 ; \
diff --git a/sys/conf/Makefile.powerpc b/sys/conf/Makefile.powerpc
index deb6eccf5d9..8bbb953659f 100644
--- a/sys/conf/Makefile.powerpc
+++ b/sys/conf/Makefile.powerpc
@@ -214,6 +214,14 @@ kernel-tags:
 	sed -e 's,      ../,    ,' tags > tags1
 
 kernel-install kernel-install.debug:
+	@if [ ! -f ${DESTDIR}/boot/device.hints ] ; then \
+		echo "You must set up a /boot/device.hints file first." ; \
+		exit 1 ; \
+	fi
+	@if [ x"`grep device.hints /boot/defaults/loader.conf /boot/loader.conf`" = "x" ]; then \
+		echo "You must activate /boot/device.hints in loader.conf." ; \
+		exit 1 ; \
+	fi
 	@if [ ! -f ${KERNEL}${.TARGET:S/kernel-install//} ] ; then \
 		echo "You must build a kernel first." ; \
 		exit 1 ; \