diff --git a/cmd/dbc/main.go b/cmd/dbc/main.go
index d6b719eb..30774ce3 100644
--- a/cmd/dbc/main.go
+++ b/cmd/dbc/main.go
@@ -127,8 +127,14 @@ func (m baseModel) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 			cmd = tea.Println(errStyle.Render("Could not download license, trial has expired"))
 		case errors.Is(msg, auth.ErrNoTrialLicense):
 			cmd = tea.Println(errStyle.Render("Could not download license, trial not started"))
+		case errors.Is(msg, dbc.ErrUnauthorized):
+			cmd = tea.Sequence(tea.Println(errStyle.Render(msg.Error())),
+				tea.Println(msgStyle.Render("Did you run `dbc auth login`?")))
+		case errors.Is(msg, dbc.ErrUnauthorizedColumnar):
+			cmd = tea.Sequence(tea.Println(errStyle.Render(msg.Error())),
+				tea.Println(msgStyle.Render("Do you have an active license for this driver? Contact support@columnar.tech for assistance.")))
 		default:
-			cmd = tea.Println("Error: ", msg.Error())
+			cmd = tea.Println(errStyle.Render("Error: " + msg.Error()))
 		}
 		return m, tea.Sequence(cmd, tea.Quit)
 	}
@@ -227,7 +233,9 @@ func main() {
 
 	if !args.Quiet {
 		if fo, ok := m.(HasFinalOutput); ok {
-			fmt.Println(fo.FinalOutput())
+			if output := fo.FinalOutput(); output != "" {
+				fmt.Println(output)
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/drivers.go b/drivers.go
index 22a6139a..a4a49a6e 100644
--- a/drivers.go
+++ b/drivers.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ package dbc
 
 import (
 	_ "embed"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"iter"
@@ -40,6 +41,11 @@ import (
 	machineid "github.com/zeroshade/machine-id"
 )
 
+var (
+	ErrUnauthorized         = errors.New("not authorized")
+	ErrUnauthorizedColumnar = errors.New("not authorized to access")
+)
+
 type Registry struct {
 	Name    string
 	Drivers []Driver
@@ -184,6 +190,17 @@ func makereq(u string) (resp *http.Response, err error) {
 		req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+cred.GetAuthToken())
 		resp, err = DefaultClient.Do(&req)
 	}
+
+	switch resp.StatusCode {
+	case http.StatusUnauthorized, http.StatusForbidden:
+		err = ErrUnauthorized
+		if auth.IsColumnarPrivateRegistry(uri) && cred != nil {
+			err = ErrUnauthorizedColumnar
+		}
+		resp.Body.Close()
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s%s: %w", uri.Host, uri.Path, err)
+	}
+
 	return resp, err
 }