diff --git a/drivers/of/base.c b/drivers/of/base.c
index 60cb9b44d4ec..a44a0e7ba251 100644
--- a/drivers/of/base.c
+++ b/drivers/of/base.c
@@ -1328,9 +1328,14 @@ int of_phandle_iterator_next(struct of_phandle_iterator *it)
 		 * property data length
 		 */
 		if (it->cur + count > it->list_end) {
-			pr_err("%pOF: %s = %d found %td\n",
-			       it->parent, it->cells_name,
-			       count, it->list_end - it->cur);
+			if (it->cells_name)
+				pr_err("%pOF: %s = %d found %td\n",
+					it->parent, it->cells_name,
+					count, it->list_end - it->cur);
+			else
+				pr_err("%pOF: phandle %s needs %d, found %td\n",
+					it->parent, of_node_full_name(it->node),
+					count, it->list_end - it->cur);
 			goto err;
 		}
 	}