diff --git a/aws_lambda_powertools/metrics/base.py b/aws_lambda_powertools/metrics/base.py
index 89a6dc6f4cd..b96356192ab 100644
--- a/aws_lambda_powertools/metrics/base.py
+++ b/aws_lambda_powertools/metrics/base.py
@@ -391,7 +391,11 @@ def decorate(event, context):
                     self._add_cold_start_metric(context=context)
             finally:
                 if not raise_on_empty_metrics and not self.metric_set:
-                    warnings.warn("No metrics to publish, skipping", stacklevel=2)
+                    warnings.warn(
+                        "No application metrics to publish. The cold-start metric may be published if enabled. "
+                        "If application metrics should never be empty, consider using 'raise_on_empty_metrics'",
+                        stacklevel=2,
+                    )
                 else:
                     metrics = self.serialize_metric_set()
                     self.clear_metrics()
diff --git a/tests/functional/test_metrics.py b/tests/functional/test_metrics.py
index 2a53b42cd16..c0c41f3bf88 100644
--- a/tests/functional/test_metrics.py
+++ b/tests/functional/test_metrics.py
@@ -728,7 +728,10 @@ def lambda_handler(evt, context):
         warnings.simplefilter("default")
         lambda_handler({}, {})
         assert len(w) == 1
-        assert str(w[-1].message) == "No metrics to publish, skipping"
+        assert str(w[-1].message) == (
+            "No application metrics to publish. The cold-start metric may be published if enabled. "
+            "If application metrics should never be empty, consider using 'raise_on_empty_metrics'"
+        )
 
 
 def test_log_metrics_with_implicit_dimensions_called_twice(capsys, metric, namespace, service):