diff --git a/crates/bevy_gizmos/Cargo.toml b/crates/bevy_gizmos/Cargo.toml
index 1f404d1bfc..c1de381454 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_gizmos/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/bevy_gizmos/Cargo.toml
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ bevy_core = { path = "../bevy_core", version = "0.12.0" }
 bevy_reflect = { path = "../bevy_reflect", version = "0.12.0" }
 bevy_core_pipeline = { path = "../bevy_core_pipeline", version = "0.12.0" }
 bevy_transform = { path = "../bevy_transform", version = "0.12.0" }
+bevy_log = { path = "../bevy_log", version = "0.12.0" }
 
 [lints]
 workspace = true
diff --git a/crates/bevy_gizmos/src/lib.rs b/crates/bevy_gizmos/src/lib.rs
index 470ae26650..43c2c54726 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_gizmos/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_gizmos/src/lib.rs
@@ -90,6 +90,10 @@ pub struct GizmoPlugin;
 
 impl Plugin for GizmoPlugin {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut bevy_app::App) {
+        // Gizmos cannot work without either a 3D or 2D renderer.
+        #[cfg(all(not(feature = "bevy_pbr"), not(feature = "bevy_sprite")))]
+        bevy_log::error!("bevy_gizmos requires either bevy_pbr or bevy_sprite. Please enable one.");
+
         load_internal_asset!(app, LINE_SHADER_HANDLE, "lines.wgsl", Shader::from_wgsl);
 
         app.register_type::<GizmoConfig>()