diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 682b8f7..27ec7d7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -116,12 +116,14 @@ fm pages publish --owner growth --html-file report.html --visibility unlisted
 fm pages asset upload chart.png
 ```
 
-FeedMob Workspace is the internal, read-only API for shared operational data.
-Obtain a personal access token from FeedMob SSO, then authenticate without
-placing the token in shell history. Workspace requests are GET-only and must
-stay under `/api/v1/`; access to individual resources is enforced by the
-server-side Workspace privileges. Consult the SSO-protected API Reference for
-available resources rather than treating CLI help as an endpoint catalog.
+FeedMob Workspace is the CLI's read-only access to the FeedMob Admin API for
+shared operational data. Obtain a personal access token from FeedMob SSO, then
+authenticate without placing the token in shell history. The token owner must
+have an approved SSO account. A `401 Unauthorized` response can mean that the
+token is invalid, expired, or revoked, or that the account is not approved.
+Workspace requests are GET-only and must stay under `/api/v1/`. Consult the
+SSO-protected API Reference for available resources rather than treating CLI
+help as an endpoint catalog.
 
 ```sh
 fm workspace auth login
diff --git a/lib/feedmob/cli/http/client.rb b/lib/feedmob/cli/http/client.rb
index 76b1c08..8225725 100644
--- a/lib/feedmob/cli/http/client.rb
+++ b/lib/feedmob/cli/http/client.rb
@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@ def raise_api_error!(status, data)
         end
 
         def api_error(data, status)
+          return workspace_unauthorized_error if workspace_unauthorized?(status)
+
           remote_error = data['error'] if data.is_a?(Hash)
           if remote_error.is_a?(Hash)
             [remote_error['code'] || 'http_error', remote_error['message'] || default_api_error(status)]
@@ -102,6 +104,18 @@ def data_message(data, remote_error, status)
         def default_api_error(status)
           "#{@service.label} API returned HTTP #{status}."
         end
+
+        def workspace_unauthorized?(status)
+          @service.name == 'workspace' && status == 401
+        end
+
+        def workspace_unauthorized_error
+          [
+            'http_error',
+            'FeedMob Workspace could not authenticate with the FeedMob Admin API. ' \
+            'Confirm that the personal access token is active and the FeedMob SSO account is approved.'
+          ]
+        end
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/test/http_client_test.rb b/test/http_client_test.rb
index 8c17a81..a68ed65 100644
--- a/test/http_client_test.rb
+++ b/test/http_client_test.rb
@@ -133,4 +133,27 @@ def test_api_error_uses_remote_message_without_exposing_token
     assert_equal 'Credential expired.', error.message
     refute_includes error.message, 'fmpat_never-print-me'
   end
+
+  def test_workspace_unauthorized_error_explains_the_account_approval_requirement
+    workspace_service = FeedMob::CLI::Services.fetch('workspace', env: {})
+    transport = FakeTransport.new(
+      response: {
+        status: 401,
+        headers: { 'content-type' => 'application/json' },
+        body: '{"error":"Unauthorized"}'
+      }
+    )
+    client = FeedMob::CLI::HTTP::Client.new(service: workspace_service, transport:)
+
+    error = assert_raises(FeedMob::CLI::Error) do
+      client.request(method: :get, path: '/api/v1/me', token: 'fmapat_never-print-me')
+    end
+
+    expected_message = 'FeedMob Workspace could not authenticate with the FeedMob Admin API. ' \
+                       'Confirm that the personal access token is active and the FeedMob SSO account is approved.'
+    assert_equal 'http_error', error.code
+    assert_equal expected_message, error.message
+    assert_equal({ status: 401 }, error.details)
+    refute_includes error.message, 'fmapat_never-print-me'
+  end
 end