diff --git a/homeassistant/components/modbus/cover.py b/homeassistant/components/modbus/cover.py
index 3a1c1c56536..4b0fa1aee87 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/modbus/cover.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/modbus/cover.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from datetime import timedelta
+import logging
 from typing import Any
 
 from pymodbus.exceptions import ConnectionException, ModbusException
@@ -35,6 +36,8 @@ from .const import (
 )
 from .modbus import ModbusHub
 
+_LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 async def async_setup_platform(
     hass: HomeAssistant,
@@ -44,6 +47,11 @@ async def async_setup_platform(
 ):
     """Read configuration and create Modbus cover."""
     if discovery_info is None:
+        _LOGGER.warning(
+            "You're trying to init Modbus Cover in an unsupported way."
+            " Check https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/modbus/#configuring-platform-cover"
+            " and fix your configuration"
+        )
         return
 
     covers = []
diff --git a/tests/components/modbus/conftest.py b/tests/components/modbus/conftest.py
index 2c83f40546f..761f2c7e141 100644
--- a/tests/components/modbus/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/components/modbus/conftest.py
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ async def base_test(
     check_config_only=False,
     config_modbus=None,
     scan_interval=None,
+    expect_init_to_fail=False,
 ):
     """Run test on device for given config."""
 
@@ -107,7 +108,10 @@ async def base_test(
         if config_device is not None:
             entity_id = f"{entity_domain}.{device_name}"
             device = hass.states.get(entity_id)
-            if device is None:
+
+            if expect_init_to_fail:
+                assert device is None
+            elif device is None:
                 pytest.fail("CONFIG failed, see output")
         if check_config_only:
             return
@@ -132,6 +136,7 @@ async def base_config_test(
     array_name_old_config,
     method_discovery=False,
     config_modbus=None,
+    expect_init_to_fail=False,
 ):
     """Check config of device for given config."""
 
@@ -147,4 +152,5 @@ async def base_config_test(
         method_discovery=method_discovery,
         check_config_only=True,
         config_modbus=config_modbus,
+        expect_init_to_fail=expect_init_to_fail,
     )
diff --git a/tests/components/modbus/test_modbus_cover.py b/tests/components/modbus/test_modbus_cover.py
index b101c6784d5..eddaa6099d7 100644
--- a/tests/components/modbus/test_modbus_cover.py
+++ b/tests/components/modbus/test_modbus_cover.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 """The tests for the Modbus cover component."""
+import logging
+
 import pytest
 
 from homeassistant.components.cover import DOMAIN as COVER_DOMAIN
@@ -117,7 +119,7 @@ async def test_coil_cover(hass, regs, expected):
         ),
     ],
 )
-async def test_register_COVER(hass, regs, expected):
+async def test_register_cover(hass, regs, expected):
     """Run test for given config."""
     cover_name = "modbus_test_cover"
     state = await base_test(
@@ -137,3 +139,32 @@ async def test_register_COVER(hass, regs, expected):
         scan_interval=5,
     )
     assert state == expected
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("read_type", [CALL_TYPE_COIL, CONF_REGISTER])
+async def test_unsupported_config_cover(hass, read_type, caplog):
+    """
+    Run test for cover.
+
+    Initialize the Cover in the legacy manner via platform.
+    This test expects that the Cover won't be initialized, and that we get a config warning.
+    """
+    device_name = "test_cover"
+    device_config = {CONF_NAME: device_name, read_type: 1234}
+
+    caplog.set_level(logging.WARNING)
+    caplog.clear()
+
+    await base_config_test(
+        hass,
+        device_config,
+        device_name,
+        COVER_DOMAIN,
+        CONF_COVERS,
+        None,
+        method_discovery=False,
+        expect_init_to_fail=True,
+    )
+
+    assert len(caplog.records) == 1
+    assert caplog.records[0].levelname == "WARNING"