diff --git a/cli/command/plugin/install.go b/cli/command/plugin/install.go
index 6175e6667..db9ed0f4a 100644
--- a/cli/command/plugin/install.go
+++ b/cli/command/plugin/install.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package plugin
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
-	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/distribution/reference"
 	"github.com/docker/cli/cli"
@@ -94,9 +93,6 @@ func runInstall(ctx context.Context, dockerCLI command.Cli, opts pluginOptions)
 	}
 	responseBody, err := dockerCLI.Client().PluginInstall(ctx, localName, options)
 	if err != nil {
-		if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "(image) when fetching") {
-			return errors.New(err.Error() + " - Use \"docker image pull\"")
-		}
 		return err
 	}
 	defer func() {
diff --git a/cli/command/plugin/install_test.go b/cli/command/plugin/install_test.go
index 697c00bc6..82eba075a 100644
--- a/cli/command/plugin/install_test.go
+++ b/cli/command/plugin/install_test.go
@@ -42,14 +42,6 @@ func TestInstallErrors(t *testing.T) {
 				return nil, errors.New("error installing plugin")
 			},
 		},
-		{
-			description:   "installation error due to missing image",
-			args:          []string{"foo"},
-			expectedError: "docker image pull",
-			installFunc: func(name string, options client.PluginInstallOptions) (io.ReadCloser, error) {
-				return nil, errors.New("(image) when fetching")
-			},
-		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tc := range testCases {
diff --git a/cli/command/plugin/upgrade.go b/cli/command/plugin/upgrade.go
index daf097dd0..62924dcc8 100644
--- a/cli/command/plugin/upgrade.go
+++ b/cli/command/plugin/upgrade.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package plugin
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
-	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/distribution/reference"
 	"github.com/docker/cli/cli"
@@ -83,9 +82,6 @@ func runUpgrade(ctx context.Context, dockerCLI command.Cli, opts pluginOptions)
 
 	responseBody, err := dockerCLI.Client().PluginUpgrade(ctx, opts.localName, options)
 	if err != nil {
-		if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "target is image") {
-			return errors.New(err.Error() + " - Use `docker image pull`")
-		}
 		return err
 	}
 	defer func() {