diff --git a/esphome/__main__.py b/esphome/__main__.py
index 98d302c82b..bb41e43011 100644
--- a/esphome/__main__.py
+++ b/esphome/__main__.py
@@ -35,7 +35,9 @@ def get_serial_ports():
 
 def choose_prompt(options):
     if not options:
-        raise ValueError
+        raise EsphomeError("Found no valid options for upload/logging, please make sure relevant "
+                           "sections (ota, mqtt, ...) are in your configuration and/or the device "
+                           "is plugged in.")
 
     if len(options) == 1:
         return options[0][1]