diff --git a/spacy/cli/project/assets.py b/spacy/cli/project/assets.py
index 8a3aaff25..58f59a3f9 100644
--- a/spacy/cli/project/assets.py
+++ b/spacy/cli/project/assets.py
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ def project_assets(project_dir: Path, *, sparse_checkout: bool = False) -> None:
                 branch=asset["git"].get("branch"),
                 sparse=sparse_checkout,
             )
+            msg.good(f"Downloaded asset {dest}")
         else:
             url = asset.get("url")
             if not url:
diff --git a/spacy/cli/project/run.py b/spacy/cli/project/run.py
index d7e1075f3..69c49fba7 100644
--- a/spacy/cli/project/run.py
+++ b/spacy/cli/project/run.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ def project_run(
         for dep in cmd.get("deps", []):
             if not (project_dir / dep).exists():
                 err = f"Missing dependency specified by command '{subcommand}': {dep}"
-                err_help = "Maybe you forgot to run the 'project assets' command?"
+                err_help = "Maybe you forgot to run the 'project assets' command or a previous step?"
                 err_kwargs = {"exits": 1} if not dry else {}
                 msg.fail(err, err_help, **err_kwargs)
         with working_dir(project_dir) as current_dir: