diff --git a/lib/devmode.bash b/lib/devmode.bash
index e0bf9af..aa69277 100644
--- a/lib/devmode.bash
+++ b/lib/devmode.bash
@@ -29,7 +29,17 @@ function dev_mode {
 }
 
 function assert_reachable_target {
-  sudo -u nobody -g sudo test -x "$(dirname "$target")"
+  local parent_target
+  parent_target=$(dirname "$target")
+  if ! sudo -u nobody -g sudo test -x "$parent_target"; then
+    cat >&2 <<EOF
+MIAOU ERROR: development mode unreachable for folder: $parent_target
+quick fix:
+  sudo chgrp sudo $parent_target
+  sudo chmod g+rx $parent_target
+EOF
+    return 20
+  fi
 }
 
 function assert_devmode_available {
@@ -55,6 +65,7 @@ function fetch_target {
   name=$(echo "$GIT_URL" | cut -d/ -f2)
   name="${name%.git}"
   target="$PWD/$name"
+  echo "development mode target: $target"
 }
 
 # Main