diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/system/run_external.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/system/run_external.rs
index ebda1e3446..68c4299667 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/system/run_external.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/system/run_external.rs
@@ -312,7 +312,12 @@ impl ExternalCommand {
                                             format!("command '{cmd_name}' was not found but it exists in module '{module_name}'; try importing it with `use`")
                                         }
                                     } else {
-                                        format!("did you mean '{s}'?")
+                                        // If command and suggestion are the same, display not found
+                                        if cmd_name == &s {
+                                            format!("'{cmd_name}' was not found")
+                                        } else {
+                                            format!("did you mean '{s}'?")
+                                        }
                                     }
                                 }
                             }
diff --git a/tests/shell/pipeline/commands/external.rs b/tests/shell/pipeline/commands/external.rs
index 2ae5dc67ba..caddb15760 100644
--- a/tests/shell/pipeline/commands/external.rs
+++ b/tests/shell/pipeline/commands/external.rs
@@ -128,6 +128,18 @@ fn command_not_found_error_suggests_typo_fix() {
     assert!(actual.err.contains("timeit"));
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn command_not_found_error_shows_not_found() {
+    let actual = nu!(
+        cwd: ".",
+        r#"
+            export extern "foo" [];
+            foo
+        "#
+    );
+    assert!(actual.err.contains("'foo' was not found"));
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn command_substitution_wont_output_extra_newline() {
     let actual = nu!(