diff --git a/onionshare/onionshare.py b/onionshare/onionshare.py
index e728577e..b8f7e299 100644
--- a/onionshare/onionshare.py
+++ b/onionshare/onionshare.py
@@ -223,7 +223,18 @@ def start_hidden_service(port):
         except SocketError:
             pass
     if not controller:
-        raise NoTor(translated("cant_connect_ctrlport").format(controlports))
+        if sys.platform == 'win32' or sys.platform == 'darwin':
+            additional_instructions = "If Tor is installed, please make sure that it is running and try launching" \
+                                      " Onionshare again.\nIf Tor is not installed, please download and " \
+                                      "install it from www.torproject.com"
+            raise NoTor(translated("cant_connect_ctrlport").format(controlports, additional_instructions))
+        elif sys.platform == 'linux2':
+            def start_torbrowser_launcher():
+                """will attempt to start package with a try/except block, if an exception is raised, will
+                instruct to download tor browser bundle."""
+                pass
+            raise NoTor(translated("cant_connect_ctrlport").format(controlports, "is Tor running?"))
+
     controller.authenticate()
 
     # set up hidden service
diff --git a/onionshare/strings.json b/onionshare/strings.json
index 6512cbef..d9063bc2 100644
--- a/onionshare/strings.json
+++ b/onionshare/strings.json
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     "closing_hole": "Closing hole in firewall.",
     "calculating_sha1": "Calculating SHA1 checksum.",
     "connecting_ctrlport": "Connecting to Tor control port to set up hidden service on port {0}.",
-    "cant_connect_ctrlport": "Cannot connect to Tor control port on port {0}. Is Tor running?",
+    "cant_connect_ctrlport": "Cannot connect to Tor control port on port {0}. {1}",
     "give_this_url": "Give this URL to the person you're sending the file to:",
     "ctrlc_to_stop":  "Press Ctrl-C to stop server",
     "not_a_file": "{0} is not a file.",