diff --git a/api/allocations.go b/api/allocations.go
index 03a28f806bf..92baad9083f 100644
--- a/api/allocations.go
+++ b/api/allocations.go
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	// NodeDownErr marks an operational as not able to complete since the node
-	// is down.
+	// NodeDownErr marks an operation as not able to complete since the node is
+	// down.
 	NodeDownErr = fmt.Errorf("node down")
 )
 
diff --git a/command/alloc_status.go b/command/alloc_status.go
index ba7e7b292e4..d0c8b09e51b 100644
--- a/command/alloc_status.go
+++ b/command/alloc_status.go
@@ -233,9 +233,11 @@ func (c *AllocStatusCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 		var stats *api.AllocResourceUsage
 		stats, statsErr = client.Allocations().Stats(alloc, nil)
 		if statsErr != nil {
+			c.Ui.Output("")
 			if statsErr != api.NodeDownErr {
-				c.Ui.Output("")
 				c.Ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("couldn't retrieve stats (HINT: ensure Client.Advertise.HTTP is set): %v", statsErr))
+			} else {
+				c.Ui.Output("Omitting resource statistics since the node is down.")
 			}
 		}
 		c.outputTaskDetails(alloc, stats, displayStats)