diff --git a/WHATS_NEW_DM b/WHATS_NEW_DM
index b0dd01bcd..6475fbdba 100644
--- a/WHATS_NEW_DM
+++ b/WHATS_NEW_DM
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 Version 1.02.145 - 
 ===================================
+  Issue a specific error with dmsetup status if device is unknown.
   Fix RT_LIBS reference in generated libdevmapper.pc for pkg-config
 
 Version 1.02.144 - 6th October 2017
diff --git a/tools/dmsetup.c b/tools/dmsetup.c
index 661910f74..53097b38b 100644
--- a/tools/dmsetup.c
+++ b/tools/dmsetup.c
@@ -2431,9 +2431,14 @@ static int _status(CMD_ARGS)
 	if (!_task_run(dmt))
 		goto_out;
 
-	if (!dm_task_get_info(dmt, &info) || !info.exists)
+	if (!dm_task_get_info(dmt, &info))
 		goto_out;
 
+	if (!info.exists) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "Device does not exist.\n");
+		goto_out;
+	}
+
 	if (!name)
 		name = dm_task_get_name(dmt);