diff --git a/salt/modules/smartos_vmadm.py b/salt/modules/smartos_vmadm.py
index eff705f2a9..7645c38222 100644
--- a/salt/modules/smartos_vmadm.py
+++ b/salt/modules/smartos_vmadm.py
@@ -50,7 +50,12 @@ def __virtual__():
     '''
     if salt.utils.is_smartos_globalzone() and _check_vmadm():
         return __virtualname__
-    return False
+    return (
+        False,
+        '{0} module can only be loaded on SmartOS computed nodes'.format(
+            __virtualname__
+        )
+    )
 
 
 def _exit_status(retcode):