diff --git a/jeepyb/cmd/close_pull_requests.py b/jeepyb/cmd/close_pull_requests.py
index e380f2f..701330d 100644
--- a/jeepyb/cmd/close_pull_requests.py
+++ b/jeepyb/cmd/close_pull_requests.py
@@ -52,7 +52,11 @@
 
 %(project)s uses Gerrit for code review.
 
-Please visit
+If you have never contributed to OpenStack before make sure you have read the
+getting started documentation:
+http://docs.openstack.org/infra/manual/developers.html#getting-started
+
+Otherwise please visit
 http://docs.openstack.org/infra/manual/developers.html#development-workflow
 and follow the instructions there to upload your change to Gerrit.
 """