diff --git a/manage.py b/manage.py
index f17aebcee..b8bd521ad 100755
--- a/manage.py
+++ b/manage.py
@@ -18,7 +18,10 @@ except ImportError:
     print 'OH NOES! There was an import error:'
     print ''
     print ''.join(traceback.format_exception(*sys.exc_info()))
-    print 'Have you activated your virtual environment?'
+    if 'VIRTUAL_ENV' in os.environ:
+        print 'Have you installed requirements? Are they up-to-date?'
+    else:
+        print 'Have you activated your virtual environment?'
     sys.exit(1)
 
 # Import for side-effect: configures our logging handlers.