diff --git a/commands/start.go b/commands/start.go
index 9154841e..337084e4 100644
--- a/commands/start.go
+++ b/commands/start.go
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 package commands
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"kool-dev/kool/core/builder"
 	"kool-dev/kool/core/environment"
 	"kool-dev/kool/core/network"
 	"kool-dev/kool/services/checker"
 	"kool-dev/kool/services/updater"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
@@ -107,6 +109,9 @@ func (s *KoolStart) Execute(args []string) (err error) {
 	}
 
 	if err = s.checkDependencies(); err != nil {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(err.Error(), "no configuration file provided: not found") {
+			err = fmt.Errorf("could not find docker-compose.yml - check your current working directory.\n\n[err: %v]", err)
+		}
 		return
 	}
 
diff --git a/core/shell/shell.go b/core/shell/shell.go
index daeb2bdb..da4c4132 100644
--- a/core/shell/shell.go
+++ b/core/shell/shell.go
@@ -136,9 +136,9 @@ func (s *DefaultShell) Exec(command builder.Command, extraArgs ...string) (outSt
 	}
 
 	if verbose {
-		fmt.Fprintf(s.ErrStream(), "$ (exec) %s %v\n",
+		fmt.Fprintf(s.ErrStream(), "$ (exec) %s %s\n",
 			exe,
-			args,
+			strings.Join(args, " "),
 		)
 	}
 
@@ -174,11 +174,11 @@ func (s *DefaultShell) Interactive(originalCmd builder.Command, extraArgs ...str
 
 	if verbose {
 		checker := NewTerminalChecker()
-		fmt.Fprintf(s.ErrStream(), "$ (TTY in: %v out: %v) %s %v\n",
+		fmt.Fprintf(s.ErrStream(), "$ (TTY in: %v out: %v) %s %s\n",
 			checker.IsTerminal(cmdptr.in),
 			checker.IsTerminal(cmdptr.out),
 			cmdptr.Command.Cmd(),
-			cmdptr.Command.Args(),
+			strings.Join(cmdptr.Command.Args(), " "),
 		)
 	}