diff --git a/library/Core.cpp b/library/Core.cpp
index fd5dc7f65..353e99ef3 100644
--- a/library/Core.cpp
+++ b/library/Core.cpp
@@ -1249,7 +1249,14 @@ command_result Core::runCommand(color_ostream &con, const std::string &first_, s
         }
         else if (res == CR_NEEDS_CONSOLE)
             con.printerr("%s needs an interactive console to work.\n"
-                          "Please run this command from the DFHack terminal.\n", first.c_str());
+                          "Please run this command from the DFHack terminal.\n\n"
+#ifdef WIN32
+                          "You can show the terminal with the 'show' command."
+#else
+                          "The terminal is accessible when you run DF from the commandline\n"
+                          "via the './dfhack' script."
+#endif
+                          "\n", first.c_str());
         return res;
     }