diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/volume/test_cinder.py b/nova/tests/unit/volume/test_cinder.py
index 081025dfc083..06712e715ed2 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/volume/test_cinder.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/volume/test_cinder.py
@@ -1062,11 +1062,15 @@ class CinderClientTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase):
         get_volume_api.assert_called_once_with(
             self.mock_session.get_endpoint.return_value)
 
+    @mock.patch('nova.volume.cinder.LOG.error')
     @mock.patch.object(ks_loading, 'load_auth_from_conf_options')
-    def test_load_auth_plugin_failed(self, mock_load_from_conf):
+    def test_load_auth_plugin_failed(self, mock_load_from_conf, mock_log_err):
         mock_load_from_conf.return_value = None
         self.assertRaises(cinder_exception.Unauthorized,
                           cinder._load_auth_plugin, CONF)
+        mock_log_err.assert_called()
+        self.assertIn('The [cinder] section of your nova configuration file',
+                      mock_log_err.call_args[0][0])
 
     @mock.patch('nova.volume.cinder._ADMIN_AUTH')
     def test_admin_context_without_token(self,
diff --git a/nova/volume/cinder.py b/nova/volume/cinder.py
index cd513f71914b..8f0b2a8c3596 100644
--- a/nova/volume/cinder.py
+++ b/nova/volume/cinder.py
@@ -70,6 +70,10 @@ def _load_auth_plugin(conf):
     if auth_plugin:
         return auth_plugin
 
+    if conf.cinder.auth_type is None:
+        LOG.error('The [cinder] section of your nova configuration file '
+                  'must be configured for authentication with the '
+                  'block-storage service endpoint.')
     err_msg = _('Unknown auth type: %s') % conf.cinder.auth_type
     raise cinder_exception.Unauthorized(401, message=err_msg)