diff --git a/salt/manager/tools/sbin_jinja/so-salt-cloud b/salt/manager/tools/sbin_jinja/so-salt-cloud
index b56038613..c8d61e2f3 100644
--- a/salt/manager/tools/sbin_jinja/so-salt-cloud
+++ b/salt/manager/tools/sbin_jinja/so-salt-cloud
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ def delete_vm(profile, vm_name, assume_yes=False):
             logger.info(f"Successfully deleted VM {vm_name}")
         elif process.returncode == 0 and not machines_destroyed:
             # Command succeeded but no machines were destroyed
-            logger.error(f"VM {vm_name} was not found to be destroyed")
+            logger.error(f"VM {vm_name} was not found to be destroyed. Verify that all configured hypervisors are online.")
             sys.exit(1)
         else:
             logger.error(f"Failed to delete VM {vm_name}")