diff --git a/cmake/Modules/Packages/KIM.cmake b/cmake/Modules/Packages/KIM.cmake
index 1a9dcf83a4..5987ebbf0a 100644
--- a/cmake/Modules/Packages/KIM.cmake
+++ b/cmake/Modules/Packages/KIM.cmake
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ if(PKG_KIM)
   if(KIM-API_FOUND)
     set(DOWNLOAD_KIM_DEFAULT OFF)
   else()
+    message(WARNING "KIM-API package not found.  We will download and build our own")
     set(DOWNLOAD_KIM_DEFAULT ON)
   endif()
   option(DOWNLOAD_KIM "Download KIM-API from OpenKIM instead of using an already installed one" ${DOWNLOAD_KIM_DEFAULT})