diff --git a/src/spice2x/overlay/windows/generic_sub.cpp b/src/spice2x/overlay/windows/generic_sub.cpp
index a65b980..b148cc0 100644
--- a/src/spice2x/overlay/windows/generic_sub.cpp
+++ b/src/spice2x/overlay/windows/generic_sub.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 #include <fmt/format.h>
 
+#include "avs/game.h"
 #include "games/io.h"
 #include "cfg/screen_resize.h"
 #include "hooks/graphics/backends/d3d9/d3d9_backend.h"
@@ -88,13 +89,32 @@ namespace overlay::windows {
     void GenericSubScreen::touch_transform(const ImVec2 xy_in, LONG *x_out, LONG *y_out) {}
 
     void GenericSubScreen::build_content() {
+        this->flags |= ImGuiWindowFlags_NoBackground;
+        
         if (this->disabled_message.has_value()) {
             this->flags &= ~ImGuiWindowFlags_NoBackground;
             ImGui::TextColored(YELLOW, "%s", this->disabled_message.value().c_str());
             return;
         }
+
         this->draw_texture();
 
+        if (!this->texture) {
+            this->flags &= ~ImGuiWindowFlags_NoBackground;
+            ImGui::TextColored(YELLOW, "Failed to acquire surface texture for subscreen.");
+            if (avs::game::is_model("LDJ")) {
+                ImGui::TextColored(
+                    YELLOW,
+                    "Ensure that you are using the correct DLL type, \n"
+                    "or patch the DLL to properly enable TDJ mode.");
+            } else if (avs::game::is_model("KFC")) {
+                ImGui::TextColored(
+                    YELLOW,
+                    "Ensure that you did not accidentally enable a patch \n"
+                    "that turns off subscreen rendering.");
+            }
+        }
+
 #if OVERLAYDBG
         if (this->status_message.has_value()) {
             log_warning("sub::overlay", "{}", this->status_message.value().c_str());
diff --git a/src/spice2x/overlay/windows/iidx_sub.cpp b/src/spice2x/overlay/windows/iidx_sub.cpp
index afbbc49..e9bb887 100644
--- a/src/spice2x/overlay/windows/iidx_sub.cpp
+++ b/src/spice2x/overlay/windows/iidx_sub.cpp
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ namespace overlay::windows {
         if (GRAPHICS_IIDX_WSUB) {
             this->disabled_message =
                 "Close this overlay and use the second window.\n"
-                "Or, turn on -iidxnosub to use the overlay instead.";
+                "If you don't see the window, double check your DLL type and apply TDJ I/O patches as needed.";
             this->draws_window = false;
         }