diff --git a/.github/workflows/cryostat-test.yml b/.github/workflows/cryostat-test.yml
index d8a9853b..6c1c6921 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cryostat-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cryostat-test.yml
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ jobs:
         username: ${{ github.event.comment.user.login }}
         password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
     - name: pull cryostat image
+      id: pull-image
       run: podman pull ghcr.io/${{ github.repository_owner }}/cryostat-core:pr-${{ needs.checkout-branch.outputs.PR_num }}-${{ needs.checkout-branch.outputs.PR_head_sha }}-linux-${{ env.build_arch }}
     - name: tag cryostat image
       run: podman tag ghcr.io/${{ github.repository_owner }}/cryostat-core:pr-${{ needs.checkout-branch.outputs.PR_num }}-${{ needs.checkout-branch.outputs.PR_head_sha }}-linux-${{ env.build_arch }} quay.io/cryostat/cryostat
@@ -126,6 +127,20 @@ jobs:
             repo: context.repo.repo,
             body: body
           })
+
+    - name: Leave a comment on pull failure
+      uses: actions/github-script@v6
+      if: always() && steps.pull-image.outcome != 'success'
+      with:
+        script: |
+          const body = `Image does not exist! Please wait for the initial build and push to complete before using \`/build_test\` command.`;
+          await github.rest.issues.createComment({
+            issue_number: context.issue.number,
+            owner: context.repo.owner,
+            repo: context.repo.repo,
+            body: body
+          })
+          
     - name: Set latest commit status as ${{ job.status }}
       uses: myrotvorets/set-commit-status-action@master
       if: always()