diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5193025..aebeefd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ For the best experience, compile this toolbox locally on your server;
 
 1. Download and install rust, see [rustup](https://rustup.rs/) for more.
 2. Be sure that the rust executables are on your `$PATH`
-3. `cargo install --locked --git https://github.com/shadowjonathan/conduit_toolbox`
+3. You may want to have a compiler and build tools installed on your system, or else cargo will complain about not being able to "link" or "compile" with `cc`.
+   - on debian/ubuntu-based systems you can install this with `sudo apt install build-essential`
+5. `cargo install --locked --git https://github.com/shadowjonathan/conduit_toolbox`\
 
 (updating only requires running that last line again)