diff --git a/snakemake/workflow.py b/snakemake/workflow.py
index 41f7a5ddc..4b2adbdfe 100644
--- a/snakemake/workflow.py
+++ b/snakemake/workflow.py
@@ -392,7 +392,8 @@ def norm_rule_relpath(f, rule):
                 )
             else:
                 raise WorkflowError(
-                    "Error executing git:\n{}".format(e.stderr.decode())
+                    "Error executing git (Snakemake requires git to be installed for "
+                    "remote execution without shared filesystem):\n" + e.stderr.decode()
                 )
 
         return files