diff --git a/cli/__snapshots__/errors_spec.js b/cli/__snapshots__/errors_spec.js
index f137d90a02..125ec45cc4 100644
--- a/cli/__snapshots__/errors_spec.js
+++ b/cli/__snapshots__/errors_spec.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ exports['errors individual has the following errors 1'] = [
   "nonZeroExitCodeXvfb",
   "missingXvfb",
   "missingApp",
+  "notInstalledCI",
   "missingDependency",
   "versionMismatch",
   "binaryNotExecutable",
diff --git a/cli/__snapshots__/verify_spec.js b/cli/__snapshots__/verify_spec.js
index 9e4839e694..b2a24d95a7 100644
--- a/cli/__snapshots__/verify_spec.js
+++ b/cli/__snapshots__/verify_spec.js
@@ -266,3 +266,25 @@ Platform: darwin (Foo-OsVersion)
 Cypress Version: 1.2.3
 
 `
+
+exports['error binary not found in ci 1'] = `
+Error: The cypress npm package is installed, but the Cypress binary is missing.
+
+We expected the binary to be installed here: /cache/Cypress/1.2.3/Cypress.app/Contents/MacOS/Cypress
+
+Reasons it may be missing:
+
+- You're caching 'node_modules' but are not caching this path: /cache/Cypress
+- You ran 'npm install' at an earlier build step but did not persist: /cache/Cypress
+
+Properly caching the binary will fix this error and avoid downloading and unzipping Cypress.
+
+Alternatively, you can run 'cypress install' to download the binary again.
+
+https://on.cypress.io/not-installed-ci-error
+----------
+
+Platform: darwin (Foo-OsVersion)
+Cypress Version: 1.2.3
+
+`
diff --git a/cli/lib/errors.js b/cli/lib/errors.js
index cc29b8bb81..bb40a07f70 100644
--- a/cli/lib/errors.js
+++ b/cli/lib/errors.js
@@ -45,6 +45,24 @@ const binaryNotExecutable = (executable) => ({
 })
 
 
+const notInstalledCI = (executable) => ({
+  description: 'The cypress npm package is installed, but the Cypress binary is missing.',
+  solution: stripIndent`\n
+    We expected the binary to be installed here: ${chalk.cyan(executable)}
+ 
+    Reasons it may be missing:
+
+    - You're caching 'node_modules' but are not caching this path: ${util.getCacheDir()}
+    - You ran 'npm install' at an earlier build step but did not persist: ${util.getCacheDir()}
+
+    Properly caching the binary will fix this error and avoid downloading and unzipping Cypress.
+
+    Alternatively, you can run 'cypress install' to download the binary again.
+
+    https://on.cypress.io/not-installed-ci-error
+  `,
+})
+
 const nonZeroExitCodeXvfb = {
   description: 'XVFB exited with a non zero exit code.',
   solution: stripIndent`
@@ -216,6 +234,7 @@ module.exports = {
     nonZeroExitCodeXvfb,
     missingXvfb,
     missingApp,
+    notInstalledCI,
     missingDependency,
     versionMismatch,
     binaryNotExecutable,
diff --git a/cli/lib/tasks/verify.js b/cli/lib/tasks/verify.js
index fa1d75d8ea..bf1f52ed41 100644
--- a/cli/lib/tasks/verify.js
+++ b/cli/lib/tasks/verify.js
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ const checkExecutable = (binaryDir) => {
     }
   })
   .catch({ code: 'ENOENT' }, () => {
+    if (util.isCi()) {
+      return throwFormErrorText(errors.notInstalledCI(executable))()
+    }
     return throwFormErrorText(errors.missingApp(binaryDir))(stripIndent`
       Cypress executable not found at: ${chalk.cyan(executable)}
     `)
diff --git a/cli/test/lib/tasks/verify_spec.js b/cli/test/lib/tasks/verify_spec.js
index 823740fb4a..2af444d9e5 100644
--- a/cli/test/lib/tasks/verify_spec.js
+++ b/cli/test/lib/tasks/verify_spec.js
@@ -394,15 +394,29 @@ context('lib/tasks/verify', () => {
         packageVersion,
       })
       util.isCi.returns(true)
-
-      return verify.start({ force: true })
     })
 
     it('uses verbose renderer', () => {
-      snapshot(
-        'verifying in ci',
-        normalize(stdout.toString())
-      )
+      return verify.start()
+      .then(() => {
+        snapshot(
+          'verifying in ci',
+          normalize(stdout.toString())
+        )
+      })
+    })
+
+    it('logs error when binary not found', () => {
+      mockfs({})
+      return verify.start()
+      .then(() => { throw new Error('Should have thrown') })
+      .catch((err) => {
+        logger.error(err)
+        snapshot(
+          'error binary not found in ci',
+          normalize(stdout.toString())
+        )
+      })
     })
   })