diff --git a/src/warnet/k8s.py b/src/warnet/k8s.py
index 62a918320..cacf8f65a 100644
--- a/src/warnet/k8s.py
+++ b/src/warnet/k8s.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import json
 import os
+import sys
 import tempfile
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -115,7 +116,16 @@ def delete_pod(pod_name: str) -> bool:
 
 def get_default_namespace() -> str:
     command = "kubectl config view --minify -o jsonpath='{..namespace}'"
-    kubectl_namespace = run_command(command)
+    try:
+        kubectl_namespace = run_command(command)
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(e)
+        if str(e).find("command not found"):
+            print(
+                "It looks like kubectl is not installed. Please install it to continue: "
+                "https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/tools/"
+            )
+        sys.exit(1)
     return kubectl_namespace if kubectl_namespace else DEFAULT_NAMESPACE
 
 
diff --git a/src/warnet/status.py b/src/warnet/status.py
index 1093fe7df..ebbd245d4 100644
--- a/src/warnet/status.py
+++ b/src/warnet/status.py
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
+import sys
+
 import click
+from kubernetes.config.config_exception import ConfigException
 from rich.console import Console
 from rich.panel import Panel
 from rich.table import Table
 from rich.text import Text
+from urllib3.exceptions import MaxRetryError
 
 from .k8s import get_mission
 from .network import _connected
@@ -13,8 +17,28 @@ def status():
     """Display the unified status of the Warnet network and active scenarios"""
     console = Console()
 
-    tanks = _get_tank_status()
-    scenarios = _get_deployed_scenarios()
+    try:
+        tanks = _get_tank_status()
+        scenarios = _get_deployed_scenarios()
+    except ConfigException as e:
+        print(e)
+        print(
+            "The kubeconfig file has not been properly set. This may mean that you need to "
+            "authorize with a cluster such as by starting minikube, starting docker-desktop, or "
+            "authorizing with a configuration file provided by a cluster administrator."
+        )
+        sys.exit(1)
+    except MaxRetryError as e:
+        print(e)
+        print(
+            "Warnet cannot get the status of a Warnet network. To resolve this, you may need to "
+            "confirm you have access to a Warnet cluster. Start by checking your network "
+            "connection. Then, if running a local cluster, check that minikube or docker-desktop "
+            "is running properly. If you are trying to connect to a remote cluster, check that "
+            "the relevant authorization file has been configured properly as instructed by a "
+            "cluster administrator."
+        )
+        sys.exit(1)
 
     # Create a unified table
     table = Table(title="Warnet Status", show_header=True, header_style="bold magenta")