diff --git a/qubesadmin/exc.py b/qubesadmin/exc.py
index 169caa7..9fd024e 100644
--- a/qubesadmin/exc.py
+++ b/qubesadmin/exc.py
@@ -85,6 +85,10 @@ class QubesNoTemplateError(QubesVMError):
     '''Cannot start domain, because there is no template'''
 
 
+class QubesVMInUseError(QubesVMError):
+    '''VM is in use, cannot remove.'''
+
+
 class QubesValueError(QubesException, ValueError):
     '''Cannot set some value, because it is invalid, out of bounds, etc.'''
     pass
diff --git a/qubesadmin/tools/qvm_remove.py b/qubesadmin/tools/qvm_remove.py
index ee08c55..b60f66c 100644
--- a/qubesadmin/tools/qvm_remove.py
+++ b/qubesadmin/tools/qvm_remove.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import sys
 
 import qubesadmin.exc
 from qubesadmin.tools import QubesArgumentParser
+import qubesadmin.utils
 
 parser = QubesArgumentParser(description=__doc__,
                              want_app=True,
@@ -47,6 +48,15 @@ def main(args=None, app=None):  # pylint: disable=missing-docstring
         for vm in args.domains:
             try:
                 del args.app.domains[vm.name]
+            except qubesadmin.exc.QubesVMInUseError:
+                dependencies = qubesadmin.utils.vm_dependencies(vm.app, vm)
+                print("VM {} cannot be removed. It is in use as:".format(
+                    vm.name))
+                for (holder, prop) in dependencies:
+                    if holder:
+                        print(" - {} for {}".format(prop, holder.name))
+                    else:
+                        print(" - global property {}".format(prop))
             except qubesadmin.exc.QubesException as e:
                 parser.error_runtime(e)
         retcode = 0