diff --git a/cmd/podman/root.go b/cmd/podman/root.go
index 1f613a4c5c..0ee5302423 100644
--- a/cmd/podman/root.go
+++ b/cmd/podman/root.go
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ func persistentPreRunE(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 
 	// Prep the engines
 	if _, err := registry.NewImageEngine(cmd, args); err != nil {
-		return err
+		return errors.Wrapf(err, "Cannot connect to the Podman socket, make sure there is a Podman REST API service running.")
 	}
 	if _, err := registry.NewContainerEngine(cmd, args); err != nil {
 		return err