diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/component-base/featuregate/testing/feature_gate.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/component-base/featuregate/testing/feature_gate.go
index e9d452fb8cb..1d7fc46768e 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/component-base/featuregate/testing/feature_gate.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/component-base/featuregate/testing/feature_gate.go
@@ -65,7 +65,11 @@ func SetFeatureGateDuringTest(tb TB, gate featuregate.FeatureGate, f featuregate
 	}
 
 	if err := gate.(featuregate.MutableFeatureGate).Set(fmt.Sprintf("%s=%v", f, value)); err != nil {
-		tb.Errorf("error setting %s=%v: %v", f, value, err)
+		if s := suggestChangeEmulationVersion(tb, gate, f, value); s != "" {
+			tb.Errorf("error setting %s=%v: %v. %s", f, value, err, s)
+		} else {
+			tb.Errorf("error setting %s=%v: %v", f, value, err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	tb.Cleanup(func() {
@@ -88,6 +92,28 @@ func SetFeatureGateDuringTest(tb TB, gate featuregate.FeatureGate, f featuregate
 	})
 }
 
+func suggestChangeEmulationVersion(tb TB, gate featuregate.FeatureGate, f featuregate.Feature, value bool) string {
+	mutableVersionedFeatureGate, ok := gate.(featuregate.MutableVersionedFeatureGate)
+	if !ok {
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	emuVer := mutableVersionedFeatureGate.EmulationVersion()
+	versionedSpecs, ok := mutableVersionedFeatureGate.GetAllVersioned()[f]
+	if !ok {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if len(versionedSpecs) > 1 {
+		// check if the feature is locked
+		lastLifecycle := versionedSpecs[len(versionedSpecs)-1]
+		if lastLifecycle.LockToDefault && !lastLifecycle.Version.GreaterThan(emuVer) && lastLifecycle.Default != value {
+			// if the feature is locked, set the emulation version to the previous version when the feature is not locked.
+			return fmt.Sprintf("Feature %s is locked at version %s. Try adding SetFeatureGateEmulationVersionDuringTest(t, gate, version.MustParse(\"1.%d\")) at the beginning of your test.", f, emuVer.String(), lastLifecycle.Version.SubtractMinor(1).Minor())
+		}
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
 // SetFeatureGateEmulationVersionDuringTest sets the specified gate to the specified emulation version for duration of the test.
 // Fails when it detects second call to set a different emulation version or is unable to set or restore emulation version.
 // WARNING: Can leak set variable when called in test calling t.Parallel(), however second attempt to set a different emulation version will cause fatal.