diff --git a/bin/build-native.sh b/bin/build-native.sh
index 9d31d091a..e8ed61bcf 100755
--- a/bin/build-native.sh
+++ b/bin/build-native.sh
@@ -2,6 +2,17 @@
 
 set -e
 
+platformioFailed() {
+	[[ $VIRTUAL_ENV != "" ]] && exit 1 # don't hint at virtualenv if it's already in use
+	echo -e "\nThere were issues running platformio and you are not using a virtual environment." \
+		"\nYou may try setting up virtualenv and downloading the latest platformio from pip:" \
+		"\n\tvirtualenv venv" \
+		"\n\tsource venv/bin/activate" \
+		"\n\tpip install platformio" \
+		"\n\t./bin/build-native.sh # retry building"
+	exit 1
+}
+
 VERSION=$(bin/buildinfo.py long)
 SHORT_VERSION=$(bin/buildinfo.py short)
 
@@ -13,8 +24,8 @@ mkdir -p $OUTDIR/
 rm -r $OUTDIR/* || true
 
 # Important to pull latest version of libs into all device flavors, otherwise some devices might be stale
-platformio pkg update --environment native
-pio run --environment native
+platformio pkg update --environment native || platformioFailed
+pio run --environment native || platformioFailed
 cp .pio/build/native/program "$OUTDIR/meshtasticd_linux_$(uname -m)"
 cp bin/device-install.* $OUTDIR
 cp bin/device-update.* $OUTDIR