diff --git a/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/commands/plugin/add.rs b/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/commands/plugin/add.rs
index e2c1c31151..225941db01 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/commands/plugin/add.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cmd-plugin/src/commands/plugin/add.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ impl Command for PluginAdd {
 
     fn extra_usage(&self) -> &str {
         r#"
-This does not load the plugin commands into the scope - see `register` for that.
+This does not load the plugin commands into the scope - see `plugin use` for
+that.
 
 Instead, it runs the plugin to get its command signatures, and then edits the
 plugin registry file (by default, `$nu.plugin-path`). The changes will be
diff --git a/crates/nu-plugin/src/plugin/mod.rs b/crates/nu-plugin/src/plugin/mod.rs
index 0ec170f4cd..30ed196dc6 100644
--- a/crates/nu-plugin/src/plugin/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-plugin/src/plugin/mod.rs
@@ -260,7 +260,8 @@ pub fn serve_plugin(plugin: &impl Plugin, encoder: impl PluginEncoder + 'static)
         }
     } else {
         eprintln!(
-            "{}: This plugin must be run from within Nushell.",
+            "{}: This plugin must be run from within Nushell. See `plugin add --help` for details \
+            on how to use plugins.",
             env::current_exe()
                 .map(|path| path.display().to_string())
                 .unwrap_or_else(|_| "plugin".into())