diff --git a/src/cc/libbpf.c b/src/cc/libbpf.c
index f72a1249a831..cd2dee45af6d 100644
--- a/src/cc/libbpf.c
+++ b/src/cc/libbpf.c
@@ -344,6 +344,14 @@ static void bpf_print_hints(int ret, char *log)
       "you'll need to be explicit.\n\n");
   }
 
+  // referencing global/static variables or read only data
+  if (strstr(log, "unknown opcode") != NULL) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "HINT: The 'unknown opcode' can happen if you reference"
+      "a global or static variable, or data in read only section. For example,"
+      "'char *p = \"hello\"' will result in p referencing a read only section,"
+      " and 'char p[] = \"hello\"' will have \"hello\" stored on the stack.\n\n");
+  }
+
   // helper function not found in kernel
   char *helper_str = strstr(log, "invalid func ");
   if (helper_str != NULL) {