diff --git a/kitty/kittens.c b/kitty/kittens.c
index f568beb60..28c0e74e0 100644
--- a/kitty/kittens.c
+++ b/kitty/kittens.c
@@ -80,7 +80,11 @@ read_response(int fd, double timeout, PyObject *ans) {
                 break;
         }
     }
-    PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TimeoutError, "Timed out while waiting to read cmd response");
+    PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TimeoutError,
+            "Timed out while waiting to read command response."
+            " Make sure you are running this command from within the kitty terminal."
+            " If you want to run commands from outside, then you have to setup a"
+            " socket with the --listen-on command line flag.");
     return false;
 }