diff --git a/cmd/podman/root.go b/cmd/podman/root.go
index 0ee5302423..1f613a4c5c 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 errors.Wrapf(err, "Cannot connect to the Podman socket, make sure there is a Podman REST API service running.")
+		return err
 	}
 	if _, err := registry.NewContainerEngine(cmd, args); err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/pkg/bindings/connection.go b/pkg/bindings/connection.go
index 7b26037ebf..6ff072e75e 100644
--- a/pkg/bindings/connection.go
+++ b/pkg/bindings/connection.go
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ func NewConnectionWithIdentity(ctx context.Context, uri string, identity string)
 
 	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, clientKey, &connection)
 	if err := pingNewConnection(ctx); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "cannot connect to the Podman socket, please verify that Podman REST API service is running")
 	}
 	return ctx, nil
 }