diff --git a/pkg/cmd/open/open.go b/pkg/cmd/open/open.go
index 922d7620..ee9d6d51 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/open/open.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/open/open.go
@@ -82,6 +82,10 @@ func NewCmdOpen(t *terminal.Terminal, store OpenStore, noLoginStartStore OpenSto
 
 // Fetch workspace info, then open code editor
 func runOpenCommand(t *terminal.Terminal, tstore OpenStore, wsIDOrName string, setupDoneString string, directory string, host bool) error { //nolint:funlen // define brev command
+
+	if !host {
+		t.Vprintf(t.Yellow("\nIf you need to ssh into the host machine, use the --host flag\n\n"))
+	}
 	// todo check if workspace is stopped and start if it if it is stopped
 	fmt.Println("finding your instance...")
 	res := refresh.RunRefreshAsync(tstore)
@@ -117,6 +121,8 @@ func runOpenCommand(t *terminal.Terminal, tstore OpenStore, wsIDOrName string, s
 	localIdentifier := workspace.GetLocalIdentifier()
 	if host {
 		localIdentifier = workspace.GetHostIdentifier()
+	} else {
+		t.Vprintf(t.Yellow("If you need to ssh into the host machine, use the --host flag\n\n"))
 	}
 
 	err = res.Await()
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/shell/shell.go b/pkg/cmd/shell/shell.go
index 173ff8c5..5e429eed 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/shell/shell.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/shell/shell.go
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@ func NewCmdShell(t *terminal.Terminal, store ShellStore, noLoginStartStore Shell
 }
 
 func runShellCommand(t *terminal.Terminal, sstore ShellStore, workspaceNameOrID, directory string, host bool) error {
+
+	if !host {
+		t.Vprintf(t.Yellow("\nIf you need to ssh into the host machine, use the --host flag\n\n"))
+	}
+
 	s := t.NewSpinner()
 	workspace, err := util.GetUserWorkspaceByNameOrIDErr(sstore, workspaceNameOrID)
 	if err != nil {