diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
index 1b15ce4..eeda9d5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
@@ -79,6 +79,20 @@ jobs:
         with:
           setup_only: true
       - run: buf --version | grep $BUF_VERSION
+  test-empty-build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs: build
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: ./
+        with:
+          lint: false
+          format: false
+          breaking: false
+          push: false
+          archive: false
+          pr_comment: false
+        continue-on-error: true # build fails
   test-lint:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs: build
diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index 2592202..8b5b3db 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -45828,6 +45828,9 @@ async function runWorkflow(bufPath, inputs, moduleNames) {
     const steps = {};
     steps.build = await build(bufPath, inputs);
     if (steps.build.status == Status.Failed) {
+        if (steps.build.stderr.match(/had no .proto files/)) {
+            core.info('Did you forget to add the "actions/checkout@v4" checkout step to your workflow?');
+        }
         return steps;
     }
     const checks = await Promise.all([
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index d0d3ddf..43ad520 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -153,6 +153,11 @@ async function runWorkflow(
   const steps: Steps = {};
   steps.build = await build(bufPath, inputs);
   if (steps.build.status == Status.Failed) {
+    if (steps.build.stderr.match(/had no .proto files/)) {
+      core.info(
+        'Did you forget to add the "actions/checkout@v4" checkout step to your workflow?',
+      );
+    }
     return steps;
   }
   const checks = await Promise.all([