diff --git a/go/pki/locate.go b/go/pki/locate.go
index e075f55b..1d7e45c9 100644
--- a/go/pki/locate.go
+++ b/go/pki/locate.go
@@ -104,5 +104,5 @@ func loadCredentials() (*creds, error) {
 	}
 	glog.Warningf("Could not load flag-defined PKI credentials: %v", err)
 
-	return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not load any credentials")
+	return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not load PKI credentials (hint: run `prodaccess` to set up developer certs or add `-- -hspki_disable` to bazel run command)")
 }