diff --git a/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/instance.ex b/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/instance.ex
index a4f1c81bc..853c4eaa2 100644
--- a/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/instance.ex
+++ b/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/instance.ex
@@ -161,12 +161,21 @@ def run(["gen" | rest]) do
         )
         |> Path.expand()
 
+      {strip_uploads_message, strip_uploads_default} =
+        if Pleroma.Utils.command_available?("exiftool") do
+          {"Do you want to strip location (GPS) data from uploaded images? This requires exiftool, it was detected as installed. (y/n)",
+           "y"}
+        else
+          {"Do you want to strip location (GPS) data from uploaded images? This requires exiftool, it was detected as not installed, please install it if you answer yes. (y/n)",
+           "n"}
+        end
+
       strip_uploads =
         get_option(
           options,
           :strip_uploads,
-          "Do you want to strip location (GPS) data from uploaded images? (y/n)",
-          "y"
+          strip_uploads_message,
+          strip_uploads_default
         ) === "y"
 
       anonymize_uploads =