diff --git a/rust/crates/commands/src/lib.rs b/rust/crates/commands/src/lib.rs
index f63c1ea3..4dc5f6ee 100644
--- a/rust/crates/commands/src/lib.rs
+++ b/rust/crates/commands/src/lib.rs
@@ -3240,7 +3240,12 @@ fn resolve_skill_install_source(source: &str, cwd: &Path) -> std::io::Result<Ski
     } else {
         cwd.join(candidate)
     };
-    let source = fs::canonicalize(&source)?;
+    let source = fs::canonicalize(&source).map_err(|e| {
+        std::io::Error::new(
+            e.kind(),
+            format!("skill source '{}' not found: {e}", source.display()),
+        )
+    })?;
 
     if source.is_dir() {
         let prompt_path = source.join("SKILL.md");
diff --git a/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs b/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs
index 602b9d0f..d7d43703 100644
--- a/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs
@@ -298,6 +298,8 @@ fn classify_error_kind(message: &str) -> &'static str {
         "unknown_agents_subcommand"
     } else if message.contains("is not installed") {
         "plugin_not_found"
+    } else if message.contains("skill source") && message.contains("not found") {
+        "skill_not_found"
     } else {
         "unknown"
     }