diff --git a/tools/virsh.c b/tools/virsh.c
index 371346a825..4b9e6624a9 100644
--- a/tools/virsh.c
+++ b/tools/virsh.c
@@ -14714,8 +14714,13 @@ vshCommandOptVolBy(vshControl *ctl, const vshCmd *cmd,
         vol = virStorageVolLookupByPath(ctl->conn, n);
     }
 
-    if (!vol)
-        vshError(ctl, _("failed to get vol '%s'"), n);
+    if (!vol) {
+        if (pool)
+            vshError(ctl, _("failed to get vol '%s'"), n);
+        else
+            vshError(ctl, _("failed to get vol '%s', specifying --pool "
+                            "might help"), n);
+    }
 
     if (pool)
         virStoragePoolFree(pool);