diff --git a/dlls/ntdll/file.c b/dlls/ntdll/file.c
index b5d1c143bcf..30b93aa523f 100644
--- a/dlls/ntdll/file.c
+++ b/dlls/ntdll/file.c
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@
 #include "ddk/ntddser.h"
 
 WINE_DEFAULT_DEBUG_CHANNEL(ntdll);
+WINE_DECLARE_DEBUG_CHANNEL(winediag);
 
 mode_t FILE_umask = 0;
 
@@ -203,6 +204,11 @@ static NTSTATUS FILE_CreateFile( PHANDLE handle, ACCESS_MASK access, POBJECT_ATT
             break;
         }
     }
+    else if (io->u.Status == STATUS_TOO_MANY_OPENED_FILES)
+    {
+        static int once;
+        if (!once++) ERR_(winediag)( "Too many open files, ulimit -n probably needs to be increased\n" );
+    }
 
     return io->u.Status;
 }