diff --git a/packages/nodejs/.changesets/show-extension-load-errors-when-required.md b/packages/nodejs/.changesets/show-extension-load-errors-when-required.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6d71d673
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/nodejs/.changesets/show-extension-load-errors-when-required.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+bump: "patch"
+type: "fix"
+---
+
+Show errors in loading the extension when the `@appsignal/nodejs` module is required.
diff --git a/packages/nodejs/src/__tests__/extension.failure.test.ts b/packages/nodejs/src/__tests__/extension.failure.test.ts
index 2c7b8fb7..fdd98b24 100644
--- a/packages/nodejs/src/__tests__/extension.failure.test.ts
+++ b/packages/nodejs/src/__tests__/extension.failure.test.ts
@@ -11,18 +11,26 @@ describe("Extension", () => {
     ext.stop()
   })
 
+  it("logs a warning when the module is required", () => {
+    const errorSpy = jest.spyOn(console, "error")
+
+    jest.resetModules()
+    require("../extension")
+
+    expect(errorSpy).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(
+      "AppSignal extension not loaded. This could mean that your current " +
+        "environment isn't supported, or that another error has occurred."
+    )
+  })
+
   it("is not loaded", () => {
     expect(Extension.isLoaded).toEqual(false)
   })
 
   it("does not start the client", () => {
-    const warnSpy = jest.spyOn(console, "warn")
     expect(() => {
       ext.start()
     }).not.toThrow()
-    expect(warnSpy).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(
-      "AppSignal extension not loaded. This could mean that your current environment isn't supported, or that another error has occurred."
-    )
   })
 
   it("does not error on stopping the client", () => {
diff --git a/packages/nodejs/src/extension.ts b/packages/nodejs/src/extension.ts
index 7562e3cf..96a080b2 100644
--- a/packages/nodejs/src/extension.ts
+++ b/packages/nodejs/src/extension.ts
@@ -16,19 +16,7 @@ export class Extension {
    * Starts the extension.
    */
   public start() {
-    try {
-      extension.start()
-    } catch (e) {
-      if (e.message === "Extension module not loaded") {
-        console.warn(
-          "AppSignal extension not loaded. This could mean that your current environment isn't supported, or that another error has occurred."
-        )
-      } else {
-        console.error(
-          `Failed to load AppSignal extension with error: ${e.message}. Please email us at support@appsignal.com for support.`
-        )
-      }
-    }
+    extension.start()
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/packages/nodejs/src/extension_wrapper.ts b/packages/nodejs/src/extension_wrapper.ts
index 44d16e5d..b4483bef 100644
--- a/packages/nodejs/src/extension_wrapper.ts
+++ b/packages/nodejs/src/extension_wrapper.ts
@@ -6,12 +6,15 @@ try {
   mod = require("../build/Release/extension.node") as ExtensionWrapper
   mod.isLoaded = true
 } catch (e) {
+  console.error(
+    "AppSignal extension not loaded. This could mean that your current " +
+      "environment isn't supported, or that another error has occurred."
+  )
+
   mod = {
     isLoaded: false,
     extension: {
-      start() {
-        throw new Error("Extension module not loaded")
-      },
+      start() {},
       stop() {},
       diagnoseRaw() {},
       runningInContainer() {}