diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index aac74d8e..782af931 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ You need at least one Mac device running macOS Tahoe 26.2 (released December 12t
 
 You can download the latest build here: [EXO-latest.dmg](https://assets.exolabs.net/EXO-latest.dmg). It will ask for permission to modify system settings and install a new Network profile. We hope to make this smoother in the future!
 
-To run from source, clone the repo and run `uv run exo`.
+To run from source, clone the repo, build the dashboard with `cd dashboard && npm install && npm run build` and run `uv run exo`.
 
 After starting with either of these methods go to `http://localhost:8000` in your browser, and you'll have EXO.
 
diff --git a/src/exo/utils/dashboard_path.py b/src/exo/utils/dashboard_path.py
index b9e6990c..b5ce9c04 100644
--- a/src/exo/utils/dashboard_path.py
+++ b/src/exo/utils/dashboard_path.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ def find_dashboard() -> Path:
     )
     if not dashboard:
         raise FileNotFoundError(
-            "Unable to locate dashboard assets. Export DASHBOARD_DIR or rebuild the binary."
+            "Unable to locate dashboard assets - make sure the dashboard has been built, or export DASHBOARD_DIR if you've built the dashboard elsewhere."
         )
     return dashboard