diff --git a/cmd/state-exec/main.go b/cmd/state-exec/main.go
index ff85e0495b..47c375daa3 100644
--- a/cmd/state-exec/main.go
+++ b/cmd/state-exec/main.go
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func run() error {
 		logr.Debug("                 sock - error: %v", err)
 
 		if onCI() { // halt control flow on CI only
-			return fmt.Errorf("cannot send message to service: %w", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("cannot send message to service (this error is handled in CI only): %w", err)
 		}
 	}