diff --git a/lang/en/webservice.php b/lang/en/webservice.php
index 39f8cc48a9a6e..d4f16bd2d4f1f 100644
--- a/lang/en/webservice.php
+++ b/lang/en/webservice.php
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 $string['accessexception'] = 'Access control exception';
 $string['accessnotallowed'] = 'Access to web service not allowed';
 $string['actwebserviceshhdr'] = 'Active web service protocols';
+$string['accesstofunctionnotallowed'] = 'Access to the function {$a}() is not allowed. Please check if a service containing the function is enabled. In the service settings: if the service is restricted check that the user is listed. Still in the service settings check for IP restriction or if the service requires a capability.';
 $string['addaservice'] = 'Add service';
 $string['addcapabilitytousers'] = 'Check users capability';
 $string['addcapabilitytousersdescription'] = 'Users should have two capabilities - webservice:createtoken and a capability matching the protocols used, for example webservice/rest:use, webservice/soap:use. To achieve this, create a web services role with the appropriate capabilities allowed and assign it to the web services user as a system role.';
diff --git a/webservice/lib.php b/webservice/lib.php
index 234bafdac4b01..53f7f596cb0cc 100644
--- a/webservice/lib.php
+++ b/webservice/lib.php
@@ -1310,7 +1310,7 @@ protected function load_function_info() {
         }
         $rs->close();
         if (!$allowed) {
-            throw new webservice_access_exception('Access to external function not allowed');
+            throw new webservice_access_exception(get_string('accesstofunctionnotallowed', 'webservice', $this->functionname));
         }
 
         // we have all we need now