diff --git a/tinygrad/runtime/ops_metal.py b/tinygrad/runtime/ops_metal.py
index 939f913e5f..c721f3818b 100644
--- a/tinygrad/runtime/ops_metal.py
+++ b/tinygrad/runtime/ops_metal.py
@@ -33,7 +33,9 @@ class MetalProgram:
       with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=True) as shader:
         shader.write(lib)
         shader.flush()
-        os.system(f"cd {pathlib.Path(__file__).parents[2]}/extra/disassemblers/applegpu && python3 compiler_explorer.py {shader.name}")
+        ret = os.system(f"cd {pathlib.Path(__file__).parents[2]}/extra/disassemblers/applegpu && python3 compiler_explorer.py {shader.name}")
+        if ret:
+          print("Error running disassembler: Make sure you have https://github.com/dougallj/applegpu cloned to tinygrad/extra/disassemblers/applegpu")
     assert lib[:4] == b"MTLB", "Invalid Metal library. Could be due to using conda. Try system python or METAL_XCODE=1 DISABLE_COMPILER_CACHE=1."
     data = libdispatch.dispatch_data_create(lib, len(lib), None, None)
     self.library = unwrap2(self.device.device.newLibraryWithData_error_(data, None))