diff --git a/policycoreutils/setsebool/setsebool.c b/policycoreutils/setsebool/setsebool.c
index dc037dd..d6c041b 100644
--- a/policycoreutils/setsebool/setsebool.c
+++ b/policycoreutils/setsebool/setsebool.c
@@ -82,8 +82,13 @@
 		if (errno == ENOENT)
 			fprintf(stderr, "Could not change active booleans: "
 				"Invalid boolean\n");
-		else if (errno)
-			perror("Could not change active booleans");
+		else if (errno) {
+			if (getuid() == 0) {
+				perror("Could not change active booleans");
+			} else {
+				perror("Could not change active booleans. Please try as root");
+			}
+		}
 
 		return -1;
 	}
@@ -115,8 +120,13 @@
 		goto err;
 
 	} else if (managed == 0) {
-		fprintf(stderr,
-			"Cannot set persistent booleans without managed policy.\n");
+		if (getuid() == 0) {
+			fprintf(stderr,
+				"Cannot set persistent booleans without managed policy.\n");
+		} else {
+			fprintf(stderr,
+				"Cannot set persistent booleans, please try as root.\n");
+		}
 		goto err;
 	}