diff --git a/youtube_dl/downloader/hls.py b/youtube_dl/downloader/hls.py
index 9d407fe6eb..9f29e2f811 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/downloader/hls.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/downloader/hls.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def real_download(self, filename, info_dict):
             except (OSError, IOError):
                 pass
         else:
-            self.report_error(u'm3u8 download detected but ffmpeg or avconv could not be found')
+            self.report_error(u'm3u8 download detected but ffmpeg or avconv could not be found. Please install one.')
         cmd = [program] + args
 
         retval = subprocess.call(cmd)
diff --git a/youtube_dl/downloader/rtmp.py b/youtube_dl/downloader/rtmp.py
index cc6a84106b..68646709a1 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/downloader/rtmp.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/downloader/rtmp.py
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ def run_rtmpdump(args):
         try:
             subprocess.call(['rtmpdump', '-h'], stdout=(open(os.path.devnull, 'w')), stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
         except (OSError, IOError):
-            self.report_error('RTMP download detected but "rtmpdump" could not be run')
+            self.report_error('RTMP download detected but "rtmpdump" could not be run. Please install it.')
             return False
 
         # Download using rtmpdump. rtmpdump returns exit code 2 when