diff --git a/nbt.py b/nbt.py
index 31332e6..eff94ca 100644
--- a/nbt.py
+++ b/nbt.py
@@ -3,14 +3,33 @@ try:
     try:
         import _nbt
         from _nbt import *
+        print "Accelerated NBT module loaded."
     except ImportError:
         print "Import error loading precompiled _nbt extension. Trying pyximport..."
         import numpy
         from pyximport import install; install(setup_args={'include_dirs':[numpy.get_include()]})
         import _nbt
         from _nbt import *
+        print "Accelerated NBT module loaded via pyximport."
 except ImportError, e:
-    print "Import error loading _nbt extension", repr(e)
-    import traceback; traceback.print_exc()
+    print "Exception: ", repr(e)
+    print """Import error loading _nbt extension. NBT acceleration will not be available.
+
+To take advantage of the accelerated NBT module, install both Cython and your system development tools. Use this
+command to install Cython:
+
+    easy_install cython
+"""
+    import sys
+    if sys.platform == "darwin":
+        print """You must also install the Xcode development tools, available from the Apple Developer Connection at connect.apple.com"""
+    elif sys.platform == "win32":
+        print """You must also install either Visual Studio 2010 or the Windows Platform SDK 7.0 from MSDN somewhere on microsoft.com"""
+    else:
+        print """You must also install your system's development tools. On Debian and Ubuntu, this command should work:
+
+    sudo apt-get install gcc
+"""
+    print
     from pynbt import *
-    
\ No newline at end of file
+    print "Pure-python NBT module loaded."