diff --git a/vmupdate/vmupdate.py b/vmupdate/vmupdate.py
index d9fa476..6132a23 100644
--- a/vmupdate/vmupdate.py
+++ b/vmupdate/vmupdate.py
@@ -55,7 +55,10 @@ def main(args=None, app=qubesadmin.Qubes()):
 
     if not targets:
         if not args.quiet:
-            print("No qube selected for update")
+            print(
+                "No qube eligible for update. Try --force-update to ensure ",
+                "all qubes are checked for new updates.",
+            )
         return EXIT.OK_NO_UPDATES if args.signal_no_updates else EXIT.OK
 
     admin = [target for target in targets if target.klass == "AdminVM"]
@@ -336,6 +339,11 @@ def select_targets(targets, args) -> Set[qubesadmin.vm.QubesVM]:
             skip_update = False
 
         if skip_update or prohibit_start:
+            if not args.quiet:
+                print(
+                    "Skipped {}. Marked to skip updates or start prohibited",
+                    vm.name,
+                )
             continue
 
         # there are updates available => select
@@ -346,10 +354,23 @@ def select_targets(targets, args) -> Set[qubesadmin.vm.QubesVM]:
         # update vm only if there are updates available
         # and that's not true at this point => skip
         if args.update_if_available:
+            if not args.quiet:
+                print(
+                    "Skipped {}. No updates available or not recently ",
+                    "checked for updates.",
+                    vm.name,
+                )
             continue
 
         if is_stale(vm, expiration_period=args.update_if_stale):
             selected.add(vm)
+        else:
+            if not args.quiet:
+                print(
+                    "Skipped {}. No updates available or last check still ",
+                    "within stale period.",
+                    vm.name,
+                )
 
     return selected