diff --git a/src/sagemaker_xgboost_container/algorithm_mode/train.py b/src/sagemaker_xgboost_container/algorithm_mode/train.py
index 24641614..37b34365 100644
--- a/src/sagemaker_xgboost_container/algorithm_mode/train.py
+++ b/src/sagemaker_xgboost_container/algorithm_mode/train.py
@@ -198,6 +198,9 @@ def sagemaker_train(
         train_dmatrix, val_dmatrix, train_val_dmatrix = get_validated_dmatrices(
             train_path, val_path, file_type, csv_weights, is_pipe, combine_train_val
         )
+
+        missing_validation_data = validation_channel and not val_dmatrix
+
         train_args = dict(
             train_cfg=validated_train_config,
             train_dmatrix=train_dmatrix,
@@ -210,22 +213,37 @@ def sagemaker_train(
             # Wait for hosts to find each other
             logging.info(f"Distributed node training with {num_hosts} hosts: {sm_hosts}")
             distributed.wait_hostname_resolution(sm_hosts)
+            include_in_training = True
             if not train_dmatrix:
                 logging.warning(
-                    "Host {} does not have data. Will broadcast to cluster and will not be used in distributed"
-                    " training.".format(sm_current_host)
+                    f"Host {sm_current_host} does not have training data. Will broadcast to "
+                    f"cluster and this host {sm_current_host} will not be used in distributed training. "
+                    f"Please divide the training data across instances properly. See https://docs.aws.amazon.com/"
+                    f"sagemaker/latest/dg/xgboost.html#Instance-XGBoost-distributed-training-divide-data. "
                 )
+                include_in_training = False
+            if missing_validation_data:
+                logging.warning(
+                    f"Host {sm_current_host} does not have validation data "
+                    f"in the validation channel : {validation_channel}. "
+                    f"Will broadcast to cluster and this host {sm_current_host} will not be used "
+                    f"in distributed training. Please divide the validation data across instances properly. "
+                    f"See https://docs.aws.amazon.com/sagemaker/latest/dg/xgboost.html"
+                    f"#Instance-XGBoost-distributed-training-divide-data. "
+                )
+                include_in_training = False
+
             distributed.rabit_run(
                 exec_fun=train_job,
                 args=train_args,
-                include_in_training=(train_dmatrix is not None),
+                include_in_training=include_in_training,
                 hosts=sm_hosts,
                 current_host=sm_current_host,
                 update_rabit_args=True,
             )
         elif num_hosts == 1:
             if train_dmatrix:
-                if validation_channel and not val_dmatrix:
+                if missing_validation_data:
                     raise exc.UserError(f"No data in validation channel path {val_path}")
                 logging.info("Single node training.")
                 train_args.update({"is_master": True})