diff --git a/transport.cpp b/transport.cpp
index d4f60ec..6020ad5 100644
--- a/transport.cpp
+++ b/transport.cpp
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 
 #include "adb.h"
 #include "adb_utils.h"
+#include "diagnose_usb.h"
 
 static void transport_unref(atransport *t);
 
@@ -674,11 +675,9 @@
     adb_mutex_lock(&transport_lock);
     for (const auto& t : transport_list) {
         if (t->connection_state == kCsNoPerm) {
+#if ADB_HOST
             *error_out = UsbNoPermissionsLongHelpText();
-            // If we couldn't figure out a reasonable help message default to something generic.
-            if (error_out->empty()) {
-                *error_out = "insufficient permissions for device";
-            }
+#endif
             continue;
         }
 
@@ -759,10 +758,7 @@
         case kCsDevice: return "device";
         case kCsHost: return "host";
         case kCsRecovery: return "recovery";
-        case kCsNoPerm: {
-            std::string message = UsbNoPermissionsShortHelpText();
-            return message.empty() ? "no permissions" : message;
-        }
+        case kCsNoPerm: return UsbNoPermissionsShortHelpText();
         case kCsSideload: return "sideload";
         case kCsUnauthorized: return "unauthorized";
         default: return "unknown";