diff --git a/desktop/flipper-server/src/devices/ios/iOSDeviceManager.tsx b/desktop/flipper-server/src/devices/ios/iOSDeviceManager.tsx
index 9744f887af4..45f53277111 100644
--- a/desktop/flipper-server/src/devices/ios/iOSDeviceManager.tsx
+++ b/desktop/flipper-server/src/devices/ios/iOSDeviceManager.tsx
@@ -198,7 +198,12 @@ export class IOSDeviceManager {
       const bridge = await this.getBridge();
       await bridge.launchSimulator(udid);
     } catch (e) {
-      console.warn('Failed to launch simulator:', e);
+      if (e.killed === true && e.signal === 'SIGTERM') {
+        throw new Error('Failed to launch simulator: command timeout');
+      } else {
+        console.warn('Failed to launch simulator:', e);
+        throw e;
+      }
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/desktop/flipper-ui/src/sandy-chrome/appinspect/LaunchEmulator.tsx b/desktop/flipper-ui/src/sandy-chrome/appinspect/LaunchEmulator.tsx
index 72a4f787e1b..94e79da7a0f 100644
--- a/desktop/flipper-ui/src/sandy-chrome/appinspect/LaunchEmulator.tsx
+++ b/desktop/flipper-ui/src/sandy-chrome/appinspect/LaunchEmulator.tsx
@@ -286,8 +286,24 @@ export const LaunchEmulatorDialog = withTrackingScope(
                     );
                     onClose();
                   } catch (e) {
-                    console.warn('Failed to start simulator: ', e);
-                    message.error(`Failed to start simulator: ${e}`);
+                    if (
+                      // definitely a server error
+                      typeof e === 'string' &&
+                      e.includes('command timeout')
+                    ) {
+                      message.warn(
+                        'Launching simulator may take up to 2 minutes for the first time. Please wait.',
+                        // seconds
+                        20,
+                      );
+                    } else {
+                      console.warn('Failed to start simulator: ', e);
+                      message.error(
+                        `Failed to start simulator: ${e}`,
+                        // seconds
+                        20,
+                      );
+                    }
                   } finally {
                     setPendingEmulators(
                       produce((draft) => {