diff --git a/doc.zih.tu-dresden.de/docs/quickstart/getting_started.md b/doc.zih.tu-dresden.de/docs/quickstart/getting_started.md
index e734374e2f840d6690d0bea4facff36b3111f4e2..adb9d147cddce5335543bab5830adcc26157448d 100644
--- a/doc.zih.tu-dresden.de/docs/quickstart/getting_started.md
+++ b/doc.zih.tu-dresden.de/docs/quickstart/getting_started.md
@@ -386,7 +386,10 @@ For additional information refer to the detailed documentation on [modules](../s
 !!! hint "Tip for Python packages"
 
     The use of [Virtual Environments](../software/python_virtual_environments.md)
-    (best in [workspaces](../data_lifecycle/workspaces.md)) is recommended.
+    (best in [workspaces](../data_lifecycle/workspaces.md)) is required if you want to install
+    additional Python packages with `pip`.
+    When using `pip install` without an activated virtual environment you will get this error:
+    > ERROR: Could not find an activated virtualenv (required).
 
     Please check the module system, even for specific Python packages,
     e.g. `numpy`, `tensorflow` or `pytorch`.
diff --git a/doc.zih.tu-dresden.de/docs/software/python_virtual_environments.md b/doc.zih.tu-dresden.de/docs/software/python_virtual_environments.md
index 8bdee46955a9f498ebdd3bc92f954e68aa655779..7895356cb846a120abf6c3229a77643bbf11af8a 100644
--- a/doc.zih.tu-dresden.de/docs/software/python_virtual_environments.md
+++ b/doc.zih.tu-dresden.de/docs/software/python_virtual_environments.md
@@ -5,7 +5,14 @@ create an isolated run-time environment. We recommend using `virtualenv` for
 this purpose. In your virtual environment, you can use packages from the
 [modules list](modules.md) or if you didn't find what you need you can install
 required packages with the command: `pip install`. With the command
-`pip freeze`, you can see a list of all installed packages and their versions.
+`pip list`, you can see a list of all installed packages and their versions.
+
+!!! warning
+
+    Note that you cannot install additional Python packages with `pip`
+    without an activated virtual environment on our systems.
+    Doing so will abort with the following error error:
+    > ERROR: Could not find an activated virtualenv (required).
 
 There are two methods of how to work with virtual environments on ZIH systems: