diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 6ae3f184..1eab290b 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 
 import setuptools
 import setuptools.command.build_ext
-
+import warnings
 
 _EXTRA_DLL = "extra-dll"
 _DLL_FILENAME = "crc32c.dll"
@@ -90,11 +90,17 @@ def main(build_cffi=True):
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
+    import sys
     try:
         main()
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
         raise
-    except Exception:
+    except SystemExit:
         # If installation fails, it is likely a compilation error with CFFI
         # Try to install again.
+        warnings.warn(
+            "Compiling the CFFI Extension crc32c has failed. Only a pure "
+            "python implementation will be usable."
+        )
         main(build_cffi=False)
+
diff --git a/src/crc32c/__init__.py b/src/crc32c/__init__.py
index 2458c896..b44591c9 100644
--- a/src/crc32c/__init__.py
+++ b/src/crc32c/__init__.py
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@
 import warnings
 
 _SLOW_CRC32C_WARNING = (
-    "Currently using crcmod in pure python form. This is a slow "
-    "implementation. If you can compile a c extension, you will have much "
-    "better performance."
+    "As the c extension couldn't be imported, `google-crc32c` is using a " 
+    "pure python implementation that is significantly slower. If possible, "
+    "please configure a c build environment and compile the extension"
 )
 
 # If available, default to CFFI Implementation, otherwise, use pure python.