diff --git a/src/cargo/core/features.rs b/src/cargo/core/features.rs
index 0a4835ccdcc..d71d20619ef 100644
--- a/src/cargo/core/features.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/core/features.rs
@@ -733,6 +733,19 @@ impl Features {
 
     /// Checks if the given feature is enabled.
     pub fn require(&self, feature: &Feature) -> CargoResult<()> {
+        self.require_with_hint(feature, None)
+    }
+
+    /// Like [`require`][Self::require], but appends an optional help message
+    /// to the error, placed just before the documentation link.
+    ///
+    /// Use this when the call site has additional context (e.g. the package's
+    /// `rust-version`) that can make the error more actionable.
+    pub(crate) fn require_with_hint(
+        &self,
+        feature: &Feature,
+        hint: Option<&str>,
+    ) -> CargoResult<()> {
         if feature.is_enabled(self) {
             return Ok(());
         }
@@ -773,6 +786,9 @@ impl Features {
              about the status of this feature.",
             feature.docs
         );
+        if let Some(hint) = hint {
+            let _ = writeln!(msg, "{hint}");
+        }
 
         bail!("{}", msg);
     }
diff --git a/src/cargo/util/toml/mod.rs b/src/cargo/util/toml/mod.rs
index 46313e9e771..b3faf6afd69 100644
--- a/src/cargo/util/toml/mod.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/util/toml/mod.rs
@@ -1359,7 +1359,15 @@ pub fn to_real_manifest(
         default_edition
     };
     if !edition.is_stable() {
-        features.require(Feature::unstable_editions())?;
+        let version = normalized_package
+            .normalized_version()
+            .expect("previously normalized")
+            .map(|v| format!("@{v}"))
+            .unwrap_or_default();
+        let hint = rust_version
+            .as_ref()
+            .map(|rv| format!("help: {package_name}{version} requires rust {rv}"));
+        features.require_with_hint(Feature::unstable_editions(), hint.as_deref())?;
     }
 
     if original_toml.project.is_some() {
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/edition.rs b/tests/testsuite/edition.rs
index c845207e278..55472d046d2 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/edition.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/edition.rs
@@ -242,6 +242,43 @@ Caused by:
         .run();
 }
 
+#[cargo_test]
+fn future_edition_with_rust_version_hint() {
+    // When an unstable edition is used and the package has `rust-version` set,
+    // the error message should include a `help:` line pointing the user at the
+    // required Rust toolchain version, matching the format used elsewhere in
+    // Cargo (e.g. `{name}@{version} requires rust {msrv}`).
+    let p = project()
+        .file(
+            "Cargo.toml",
+            r#"
+                [package]
+                name = "foo"
+                version = "0.1.0"
+                edition = "future"
+                rust-version = "1.90"
+            "#,
+        )
+        .file("src/lib.rs", "")
+        .build();
+
+    p.cargo("check")
+        .with_status(101)
+        .with_stderr_data(str![[r#"
+[ERROR] failed to parse manifest at `[ROOT]/foo/Cargo.toml`
+
+Caused by:
+  feature `unstable-editions` is required
+
+  The package requires the Cargo feature called `unstable-editions`, but that feature is not stabilized in this version of Cargo ([..]).
+  Consider trying a newer version of Cargo (this may require the nightly release).
+  See https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/cargo/reference/unstable.html#unstable-editions for more information about the status of this feature.
+  [HELP] foo@0.1.0 requires rust 1.90
+
+"#]])
+        .run();
+}
+
 #[cargo_test(nightly, reason = "future edition is always unstable")]
 fn future_edition_works() {
     let p = project()