diff --git a/arcade/arcade/cli/display.py b/arcade/arcade/cli/display.py
index 89027a47..b9aac4cd 100644
--- a/arcade/arcade/cli/display.py
+++ b/arcade/arcade/cli/display.py
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ def display_tools_table(tools: list[ToolDefinition]) -> None:
     """
     Display a table of tools with their name, description, package, and version.
     """
+    if not tools:
+        console.print("No tools found.", style="bold")
+        return
+
     table = Table(show_header=True, header_style="bold magenta")
     table.add_column("Name")
     table.add_column("Description")
diff --git a/arcade/arcade/cli/utils.py b/arcade/arcade/cli/utils.py
index 6bc8aa17..86d68598 100644
--- a/arcade/arcade/cli/utils.py
+++ b/arcade/arcade/cli/utils.py
@@ -198,9 +198,14 @@ def get_tools_from_engine(
     client = Arcade(api_key=config.api.key, base_url=base_url)
 
     tools = []
-    page_iterator = client.tools.list(toolkit=toolkit or NOT_GIVEN)
-    for tool in page_iterator:
-        tools.append(ToolDefinition.model_validate(tool.model_dump()))
+    try:
+        page_iterator = client.tools.list(toolkit=toolkit or NOT_GIVEN)
+        for tool in page_iterator:
+            tools.append(ToolDefinition.model_validate(tool.model_dump()))
+    except APIConnectionError:
+        console.print(
+            f"❌ Can't connect to Arcade Engine at {base_url}. (Is it running?)", style="bold red"
+        )
 
     return tools