diff --git a/sys/alpha/alpha/machdep.c b/sys/alpha/alpha/machdep.c
index 9218ec37fb86..598362d31acb 100644
--- a/sys/alpha/alpha/machdep.c
+++ b/sys/alpha/alpha/machdep.c
@@ -789,6 +789,8 @@ alpha_init(pfn, ptb, bim, bip, biv)
 	/* But if the bootstrap tells us otherwise, believe it! */
 	if (bootinfo.kernend)
 		kernend = round_page(bootinfo.kernend);
+	if (preload_metadata == NULL)
+		printf("WARNING: loader(8) metadata is missing!\n");
 
 	p = getenv("kernelname");
 	if (p)
diff --git a/sys/amd64/amd64/machdep.c b/sys/amd64/amd64/machdep.c
index 781ff87195a7..6edecf04db54 100644
--- a/sys/amd64/amd64/machdep.c
+++ b/sys/amd64/amd64/machdep.c
@@ -1829,6 +1829,8 @@ init386(first)
 	if (bootinfo.bi_modulep) {
 		preload_metadata = (caddr_t)bootinfo.bi_modulep + KERNBASE;
 		preload_bootstrap_relocate(KERNBASE);
+	} else {
+		printf("WARNING: loader(8) metadata is missing!\n");
 	}
 	if (bootinfo.bi_envp)
 		kern_envp = (caddr_t)bootinfo.bi_envp + KERNBASE;
diff --git a/sys/i386/i386/machdep.c b/sys/i386/i386/machdep.c
index 781ff87195a7..6edecf04db54 100644
--- a/sys/i386/i386/machdep.c
+++ b/sys/i386/i386/machdep.c
@@ -1829,6 +1829,8 @@ init386(first)
 	if (bootinfo.bi_modulep) {
 		preload_metadata = (caddr_t)bootinfo.bi_modulep + KERNBASE;
 		preload_bootstrap_relocate(KERNBASE);
+	} else {
+		printf("WARNING: loader(8) metadata is missing!\n");
 	}
 	if (bootinfo.bi_envp)
 		kern_envp = (caddr_t)bootinfo.bi_envp + KERNBASE;