diff --git a/gst/tcp/gstmultihandlesink.c b/gst/tcp/gstmultihandlesink.c
index d17cd43332..f060f0eaf2 100644
--- a/gst/tcp/gstmultihandlesink.c
+++ b/gst/tcp/gstmultihandlesink.c
@@ -2221,9 +2221,16 @@ gst_multi_handle_sink_change_state (GstElement * element,
   sink = GST_MULTI_HANDLE_SINK (element);
 
   /* we disallow changing the state from the streaming thread */
-  if (g_thread_self () == sink->thread)
-    return GST_STATE_CHANGE_FAILURE;
+  if (g_thread_self () == sink->thread) {
+    g_warning
+        ("\nTrying to change %s's state from its streaming thread would deadlock.\n"
+        "You cannot change the state of an element from its streaming\n"
+        "thread. Use g_idle_add() or post a GstMessage on the bus to\n"
+        "schedule the state change from the main thread.\n",
+        GST_ELEMENT_NAME (sink));
 
+    return GST_STATE_CHANGE_FAILURE;
+  }
 
   switch (transition) {
     case GST_STATE_CHANGE_NULL_TO_READY: