diff --git a/zebra-consensus/src/checkpoint/README.md b/zebra-consensus/src/checkpoint/README.md
index b811e542b..c79943c29 100644
--- a/zebra-consensus/src/checkpoint/README.md
+++ b/zebra-consensus/src/checkpoint/README.md
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Or jump straight to [the exact commands for updating the lists](https://github.c
 
 ### Use the `zebra-checkpoints` utility
 
-`zebra-checkpoints` is the program we use to collect checkpoints. Currently this program uses `zcash-cli` to get the hashes. `zcash-cli` must be available in your machine and it must be connected to a synchronized (Mainnet or Testnet) instance of `zebrad` or `zcashd` to get the most recent hashes.
+`zebra-checkpoints` is the program we use to collect checkpoints. Currently this program uses `zcash-cli` to get the hashes. `zcash-cli` must be available in your machine and it must be connected to a synchronized (Mainnet or Testnet) instance of `zebrad` or `zcashd` to get the most recent hashes. Make sure your `zebrad` or `zcashd` is [listening for RPC requests](https://github.com/ZcashFoundation/zebra/blob/c0849ad8cb3aefe927e1735e586ce3c72d96d16c/zebra-rpc/src/config.rs#L29). If you are on a Debian system, `zcash-cli` [can be installed as a package](https://zcash.readthedocs.io/en/latest/rtd_pages/install_debian_bin_packages.html).
 
 First, [build the `zebra-checkpoints` binary](https://github.com/ZcashFoundation/zebra/tree/main/zebra-utils/README.md#zebra-checkpoints).