diff --git a/ironic/drivers/modules/ilo/power.py b/ironic/drivers/modules/ilo/power.py
index 909fa5a8c6..d5713620b0 100644
--- a/ironic/drivers/modules/ilo/power.py
+++ b/ironic/drivers/modules/ilo/power.py
@@ -79,12 +79,21 @@ def _get_power_state(node):
     # Check the current power state.
     try:
         power_status = ilo_object.get_host_power_status()
-
     except ilo_error.IloError as ilo_exception:
         LOG.error("iLO get_power_state failed for node %(node_id)s with "
                   "error: %(error)s.",
                   {'node_id': node.uuid, 'error': ilo_exception})
         operation = _('iLO get_power_status')
+        if 'RIBCLI is disabled' in str(ilo_exception):
+            warn_msg = ("Node %s appears to have a disabled API "
+                        "required for the \'%s\' hardware type to function. "
+                        "Please consider using the \'redfish\' hardware "
+                        "type." % (node.uuid, node.driver))
+            manager_utils.node_history_record(node, event=warn_msg,
+                                              event_type=node.provision_state,
+                                              error=True)
+            raise exception.IloOperationError(operation=operation,
+                                              error=warn_msg)
         raise exception.IloOperationError(operation=operation,
                                           error=ilo_exception)
 
diff --git a/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/ilo/test_power.py b/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/ilo/test_power.py
index ff49b34ad6..d8aa6534da 100644
--- a/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/ilo/test_power.py
+++ b/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/ilo/test_power.py
@@ -73,6 +73,25 @@ class IloPowerInternalMethodsTestCase(test_common.BaseIloTest):
                           self.node)
         ilo_mock_object.get_host_power_status.assert_called_once_with()
 
+    @mock.patch.object(manager_utils, 'node_history_record', autospec=True)
+    def test__get_power_state_ilo6_redirect(self, record_history_mock,
+                                            get_ilo_object_mock):
+        ilo_mock_object = get_ilo_object_mock.return_value
+        exc = ilo_error.IloError('Error: RIBCLI is disabled.')
+        ilo_mock_object.get_host_power_status.side_effect = exc
+        self.assertRaisesRegex(exception.IloOperationError,
+                               'appears to have a disabled API required',
+                               ilo_power._get_power_state,
+                               self.node)
+        ilo_mock_object.get_host_power_status.assert_called_once_with()
+        record_history_mock.assert_called_once_with(
+            mock.ANY,
+            event=('Node %s appears to have a disabled API required for the '
+                   '\'ilo\' hardware type to function. Please consider using '
+                   'the \'redfish\' hardware type.' % self.node.uuid),
+            event_type='available',
+            error=True)
+
     def test__set_power_state_invalid_state(self, get_ilo_object_mock):
         with task_manager.acquire(self.context, self.node.uuid,
                                   shared=True) as task:
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/add-warning-in-ilo-for-ilo6-c400b35f55b81f50.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/add-warning-in-ilo-for-ilo6-c400b35f55b81f50.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..82d4d7b398
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/add-warning-in-ilo-for-ilo6-c400b35f55b81f50.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Fixes a vague error when attempting to use the ``ilo`` hardware type with
+    iLO6 hardware, by returning a more specific error suggesting action to
+    take in order to remedy the issue. Specifically, one of the API's
+    used by the ``ilo`` hardware type is disabled in iLO6 BMCs in favor
+    of users utilizing Redfish. Operators are advised to utilize the
+    ``redfish`` hardware type for these machines.