diff --git a/aliases/README.md b/aliases/README.md
index edeeda7..9aaa9fd 100644
--- a/aliases/README.md
+++ b/aliases/README.md
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ Run the installer:
 
 The installer detects macOS/Linux and Bash/Zsh, then adds a managed source block to the right startup file. It is safe to run more than once and creates a timestamped backup before changing the startup file.
 
+After running the installer, open a new shell or run `source ~/.zshrc` for Zsh or `source ~/.bashrc` / `source ~/.bash_profile` for Bash. A shell script cannot add aliases to the already-running parent shell by itself.
+
 Preview the change without writing files:
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/aliases/install.sh b/aliases/install.sh
index 83733a0..1303d81 100755
--- a/aliases/install.sh
+++ b/aliases/install.sh
@@ -178,6 +178,9 @@ remove_existing_block "$target_rc" "$tmp_file"
 if cmp -s "$target_rc" "$new_file"; then
     echo
     echo "ByteLyst aliases are already installed."
+    echo "They will be available in new shell sessions."
+    echo "To use them in this shell now, run:"
+    echo "  source \"$target_rc\""
     exit 0
 fi
 
@@ -188,5 +191,6 @@ cat "$new_file" > "$target_rc"
 echo
 echo "Installed ByteLyst aliases."
 echo "Backup created: $backup_file"
-echo "Open a new shell or run:"
+echo "They will be available in new shell sessions."
+echo "To use them in this shell now, run:"
 echo "  source \"$target_rc\""