diff --git a/tests/core/test_service_compiled_import_hint.py b/tests/core/test_service_compiled_import_hint.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a686a477
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/core/test_service_compiled_import_hint.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from importlib.machinery import EXTENSION_SUFFIXES
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from unshackle.core.services import compiled_import_hint
+
+
+def _service(tmp_path: Path, *files: str) -> Path:
+    (tmp_path / "EXAMPLE").mkdir()
+    init = tmp_path / "EXAMPLE" / "__init__.py"
+    init.write_text("from .example import EXAMPLE\n")
+    for name in files:
+        (init.parent / name).touch()
+    return init
+
+
+def test_hint_names_the_file_this_python_needs(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    init = _service(tmp_path, "example.cp999-win_amd64.pyd", "example.cpython-999-x86_64-linux-gnu.so")
+    assert f"needs example{EXTENSION_SUFFIXES[0]}" in compiled_import_hint("EXAMPLE.example", init)
+
+
+def test_no_hint_when_this_python_can_load_it(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    init = _service(tmp_path, f"example{EXTENSION_SUFFIXES[0]}")
+    assert compiled_import_hint("EXAMPLE.example", init) == ""
+
+
+def test_no_hint_for_a_pure_python_service(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    init = _service(tmp_path)
+    assert compiled_import_hint("EXAMPLE.example", init) == ""
diff --git a/unshackle/core/services.py b/unshackle/core/services.py
index f6df0e54..00dd92d5 100644
--- a/unshackle/core/services.py
+++ b/unshackle/core/services.py
@@ -2,10 +2,12 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import inspect
 import logging
+import platform
 import re
 import sys
 import threading
 import time
+from importlib.machinery import EXTENSION_SUFFIXES
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, Iterable
 
@@ -67,6 +69,22 @@ def discover_services() -> tuple[list[Path], list[str]]:
 SERVICES, SHADOWED = discover_services()
 
 
+def compiled_import_hint(missing: str, path: Path) -> str:
+    """Say why a compiled service submodule did not import.
+
+    Python loads a compiled service only from a file named for the exact interpreter
+    and platform that runs it, so name the build the service does not ship.
+    """
+    stem = missing.rsplit(".", 1)[-1]
+    present = [f.name for f in path.parent.glob(f"{stem}.*") if f.suffix in (".so", ".pyd")]
+    if not present or any(f"{stem}{suffix}" in present for suffix in EXTENSION_SUFFIXES):
+        return ""
+    return (
+        f" - this service ships no build for Python {platform.python_version()}"
+        f" on {platform.system()}, which needs {stem}{EXTENSION_SUFFIXES[0]}"
+    )
+
+
 def load_service(path: Path) -> object:
     """Load one Service module, returning its tag-named class.
 
@@ -77,7 +95,8 @@ def load_service(path: Path) -> object:
     try:
         module = import_module_by_path(path)
     except Exception as e:
-        raise RuntimeError(f"{tag}: failed to import - {type(e).__name__}: {e} ({path})") from e
+        hint = compiled_import_hint(e.name, path) if isinstance(e, ModuleNotFoundError) and e.name else ""
+        raise RuntimeError(f"{tag}: failed to import - {type(e).__name__}: {e}{hint} ({path})") from e
     try:
         return getattr(module, tag)
     except AttributeError as e: