diff --git a/src/bin/vip-app.js b/src/bin/vip-app.js
index 65d5e7e49..291464d34 100755
--- a/src/bin/vip-app.js
+++ b/src/bin/vip-app.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import chalk from 'chalk';
 import app from '../lib/api/app';
 import command, { getEnvIdentifier } from '../lib/cli/command';
 import { trackEvent } from '../lib/tracker';
+import { parseApiError } from '../lib/utils';
 
 command( { requiredArgs: 1, format: true } )
 	.example(
@@ -41,7 +42,17 @@ command( { requiredArgs: 1, format: true } )
 				error: `App ${ arg[ 0 ] } does not exist`,
 			} );
 
-			console.log( `App ${ chalk.blueBright( arg[ 0 ] ) } does not exist` );
+			const apiErrorMsg = parseApiError( err );
+
+			let errorMsg = `Unable to locate app ${ chalk.blueBright( arg[ 0 ] ) }`;
+
+			if ( apiErrorMsg ) {
+				errorMsg += ': ' + apiErrorMsg;
+			} else {
+				errorMsg += ': Invalid application or connection issue?';
+			}
+
+			console.log( errorMsg );
 			return;
 		}
 
@@ -50,7 +61,7 @@ command( { requiredArgs: 1, format: true } )
 				error: `App ${ arg[ 0 ] } does not exist`,
 			} );
 
-			console.log( `App ${ chalk.blueBright( arg[ 0 ] ) } does not exist` );
+			console.log( `App ${ chalk.blueBright( arg[ 0 ] ) } was not found` );
 			return;
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/lib/cli/command.js b/src/lib/cli/command.js
index 875911ab1..d07770950 100644
--- a/src/lib/cli/command.js
+++ b/src/lib/cli/command.js
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import pkg from '../../../package.json';
 import API from '../../lib/api';
 import app from '../../lib/api/app';
 import { trackEvent } from '../../lib/tracker';
+import { parseApiError } from '../../lib/utils';
 import UserError from '../user-error';
 
 function uncaughtError( err ) {
@@ -232,7 +233,7 @@ args.argv = async function ( argv, cb ) {
 					error: 'Invalid app selected',
 				} );
 
-				exit.withError( `App ${ chalk.blueBright( appSelection.app.name ) } does not exist` );
+				exit.withError( `App ${ chalk.blueBright( appSelection.app.name ) } could not be located` );
 			}
 
 			await trackEvent( 'command_appcontext_list_select_success' );
@@ -247,7 +248,17 @@ args.argv = async function ( argv, cb ) {
 					error: 'App lookup failed',
 				} );
 
-				exit.withError( `App ${ chalk.blueBright( options.app ) } does not exist` );
+				const apiErrorMsg = parseApiError( err );
+
+				let errorMsg = `Unable to find app ${ chalk.blueBright( options.app ) }`;
+
+				if ( apiErrorMsg ) {
+					errorMsg += ': ' + apiErrorMsg;
+				} else {
+					errorMsg += ': Invalid application or connection issue?';
+				}
+
+				exit.withError( errorMsg );
 			}
 
 			if ( ! appLookup?.id ) {
diff --git a/src/lib/utils.ts b/src/lib/utils.ts
index 66c5661c2..d199ee3a0 100644
--- a/src/lib/utils.ts
+++ b/src/lib/utils.ts
@@ -75,3 +75,31 @@ export function getAbsolutePath( filePath: string ): string {
 
 	return filePath;
 }
+
+/**
+ * Parse error object and return probable error.
+ *
+ * @param {Error} Error object
+ *
+ * @return {string|null} Error string when error was found, otherwise null.
+ */
+
+export function parseApiError( err: {
+	networkError?: { message?: string };
+	message?: string;
+	graphQLErrors: unknown[];
+} ): string | null {
+	if ( err?.networkError?.message ) {
+		return err?.networkError?.message;
+	}
+
+	if ( err?.graphQLErrors && err?.graphQLErrors?.length > 0 && err?.graphQLErrors[ 0 ]?.message ) {
+		return <string>err?.graphQLErrors[ 0 ]?.message;
+	}
+
+	if ( err?.message ) {
+		return err?.message;
+	}
+
+	return null;
+}