diff --git a/client.c b/client.c
index 3db8783f..164abdd3 100644
--- a/client.c
+++ b/client.c
@@ -296,6 +296,13 @@ client_main(struct event_base *base, int argc, char **argv, int flags,
 			fprintf(stderr, "no server running on %s\n",
 			    socket_path);
 		} else {
+#ifdef TMATE
+			if (errno == ENOENT)
+				fprintf(stderr, "You must specify a socket name with -S. For example: \n"
+					        "  tmate -S /tmp/tmate.sock new-session -d\n"
+					        "  tmate -S /tmp/tmate.sock wait tmate-ready\n");
+			else
+#endif
 			fprintf(stderr, "error connecting to %s (%s)\n",
 			    socket_path, strerror(errno));
 		}