diff --git a/pkg/cmd/extension/manager.go b/pkg/cmd/extension/manager.go
index 0ab429c2e..60fe8d239 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/extension/manager.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/extension/manager.go
@@ -263,12 +263,18 @@ func (m *Manager) installBin(repo ghrepo.Interface, target string) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// if an arm64 binary is unavailable, fall back to amd64 if it can be executed through Rosetta 2
-	if asset == nil && isMacARM && hasRosetta() {
+	// if using an ARM-based Mac and an arm64 binary is unavailable, fall back to amd64 if a relevant binary is available and Rosetta 2 is installed
+	if asset == nil && isMacARM {
 		for _, a := range r.Assets {
 			if strings.HasSuffix(a.Name, "darwin-amd64") {
-				asset = &a
-				break
+				if hasRosetta() {
+					asset = &a
+					break
+				} else {
+					return fmt.Errorf(
+						"%[1]s unsupported for %[2]s. Install Rosetta with `softwareupdate --install-rosetta` to use the available darwin-amd64 binary, or open an issue: `gh issue create -R %[3]s/%[1]s -t'Support %[2]s'`",
+						repo.RepoName(), platform, repo.RepoOwner())
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}