diff --git a/esmvalcore/io/local.py b/esmvalcore/io/local.py
index c7b2059357..48273ca214 100644
--- a/esmvalcore/io/local.py
+++ b/esmvalcore/io/local.py
@@ -589,7 +589,13 @@ def find_data(self, **facets: FacetValue) -> list[LocalFile]:
         files.sort()  # sorting makes it easier to see what was found
 
         if "timerange" in facets:
+            found_files = bool(files)
             files = _select_files(files, facets["timerange"])
+            if not files and found_files:
+                self.debug_info += (
+                    f" within the requested timerange {facets['timerange']}"
+                )
+
         return files
 
     def _path2facets(self, path: Path, add_timerange: bool) -> dict[str, str]: