diff --git a/zookeeper-server/src/main/java/org/apache/zookeeper/ClientCnxnSocket.java b/zookeeper-server/src/main/java/org/apache/zookeeper/ClientCnxnSocket.java
index 6141d51e855..133a873fd4d 100644
--- a/zookeeper-server/src/main/java/org/apache/zookeeper/ClientCnxnSocket.java
+++ b/zookeeper-server/src/main/java/org/apache/zookeeper/ClientCnxnSocket.java
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ void updateLastSendAndHeard() {
     void readLength() throws IOException {
         int len = incomingBuffer.getInt();
         if (len < 0 || len >= packetLen) {
-            throw new IOException("Packet len " + len + " is out of range " + packetLen + "!");
+            throw new IOException("Packet len " + len + " is out of range " + packetLen + "! -Djute.maxBuffer to cover it.");
         }
         incomingBuffer = ByteBuffer.allocate(len);
     }