diff --git a/nshlib/nsh_fsutils.c b/nshlib/nsh_fsutils.c
index fe18b4812..722976d89 100644
--- a/nshlib/nsh_fsutils.c
+++ b/nshlib/nsh_fsutils.c
@@ -84,7 +84,18 @@ int nsh_catfile(FAR struct nsh_vtbl_s *vtbl, FAR const char *cmd,
   fd = open(filepath, O_RDONLY);
   if (fd < 0)
     {
-      nsh_error(vtbl, g_fmtcmdfailed, cmd, "open", NSH_ERRNO);
+      if (strncmp(filepath, CONFIG_NSH_PROC_MOUNTPOINT,
+                  strlen(CONFIG_NSH_PROC_MOUNTPOINT)) == 0)
+        {
+          nsh_error(vtbl,
+                    "nsh: %s: Could not open %s (is procfs mounted?): %d\n",
+                    cmd, filepath, NSH_ERRNO);
+        }
+      else
+        {
+          nsh_error(vtbl, g_fmtcmdfailed, cmd, "open", NSH_ERRNO);
+        }
+
       return ERROR;
     }
 
@@ -319,7 +330,18 @@ int nsh_foreach_direntry(FAR struct nsh_vtbl_s *vtbl, FAR const char *cmd,
     {
       /* Failed to open the directory */
 
-      nsh_error(vtbl, g_fmtnosuch, cmd, "directory", dirpath);
+      if (strncmp(dirpath, CONFIG_NSH_PROC_MOUNTPOINT,
+                  strlen(CONFIG_NSH_PROC_MOUNTPOINT)) == 0)
+        {
+          nsh_error(vtbl,
+                    "nsh: %s: Could not open %s (is procfs mounted?): %d\n",
+                    cmd, dirpath, NSH_ERRNO);
+        }
+      else
+        {
+          nsh_error(vtbl, g_fmtnosuch, cmd, "directory", dirpath);
+        }
+
       return ERROR;
     }
 
diff --git a/nshlib/nsh_netcmds.c b/nshlib/nsh_netcmds.c
index b158ed39a..d4633e10c 100644
--- a/nshlib/nsh_netcmds.c
+++ b/nshlib/nsh_netcmds.c
@@ -391,7 +391,9 @@ static int nsh_foreach_netdev(nsh_netdev_callback_t callback,
   dir = opendir(CONFIG_NSH_PROC_MOUNTPOINT "/net");
   if (dir == NULL)
     {
-      nsh_error(vtbl, g_fmtcmdfailed, cmd, "opendir", NSH_ERRNO);
+      nsh_error(vtbl,
+                "nsh: %s: Could not open %s/net (is procfs mounted?): %d\n",
+                cmd, CONFIG_NSH_PROC_MOUNTPOINT, NSH_ERRNO);
       return ERROR;
     }