diff --git a/pkg/cmd/cli/cmd/process.go b/pkg/cmd/cli/cmd/process.go
index 30f4f7c44e5c..cf0d40a2b5a7 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/cli/cmd/process.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/cli/cmd/process.go
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ func RunProcess(f *clientcmd.Factory, in io.Reader, out, errout io.Writer, cmd *
 			Do().
 			Infos()
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to read input object (not a Template?): %v", err)
 		}
 	}