diff --git a/cmd/query_lambda.go b/cmd/query_lambda.go
index 30fdc9c..9e6bc31 100644
--- a/cmd/query_lambda.go
+++ b/cmd/query_lambda.go
@@ -245,14 +245,13 @@ func newCreateQueryLambdaCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
+			_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "created query lambda %s.%s:%s\n",
+				ql.GetWorkspace(), ql.GetName(), ql.GetVersion())
 
 			if err = waitUntilQLActive(rs, cmd, ws, args[0], ql.GetVersion()); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 
-			_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "created query lambda %s.%s:%s\n",
-				ql.GetWorkspace(), ql.GetName(), ql.GetVersion())
-
 			return nil
 		},
 	}
@@ -337,14 +336,13 @@ func newUpdateQueryLambdaCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
+			_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "updated query lambda %s.%s:%s",
+				ql.GetWorkspace(), ql.GetName(), ql.GetVersion())
 
 			if err = waitUntilQLActive(rs, cmd, ws, args[0], ql.GetVersion()); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 
-			_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "updated query lambda %s.%s:%s",
-				ql.GetWorkspace(), ql.GetName(), ql.GetVersion())
-
 			return nil
 		},
 	}
@@ -367,7 +365,7 @@ func waitUntilQLActive(rs *rockset.RockClient, cmd *cobra.Command, ws, name, ver
 		return err
 	}
 	if wait {
-		// TODO notify the user that we're waiting
+		_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "waiting until query lambda is ready...")
 		if err := rs.Wait.UntilQueryLambdaVersionActive(cmd.Context(), ws, name, version); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to wait for %s.%s:%s to be active: %v", ws, name, version, err)
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/virtual_instance.go b/cmd/virtual_instance.go
index 6c5afc7..73d2402 100644
--- a/cmd/virtual_instance.go
+++ b/cmd/virtual_instance.go
@@ -48,12 +48,12 @@ func newCreateVirtualInstanceCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
+			_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "virtual instance '%s' created\n", result.GetName())
 
 			if err = waitUntilVIActive(rs, cmd, result.GetId()); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 
-			_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "virtual instance '%s' created\n", result.GetName())
 			return nil
 		},
 	}
@@ -100,12 +100,12 @@ func newUpdateVirtualInstanceCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
+			_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "virtual instance '%s' updated\n", result.GetName())
 
 			if err = waitUntilVIActive(rs, cmd, result.GetId()); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 
-			_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "virtual instance '%s' updated\n", result.GetName())
 			return nil
 		},
 	}
@@ -291,13 +291,12 @@ func newResumeVirtualInstanceCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
+			_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "virtual instance '%s' resumed\n", result.GetName())
 
 			if err = waitUntilVIActive(rs, cmd, id); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 
-			_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "virtual instance '%s' resumed\n", result.GetName())
-
 			return nil
 		},
 	}
@@ -350,7 +349,8 @@ func waitUntilVIActive(rs *rockset.RockClient, cmd *cobra.Command, vID string) e
 		return err
 	}
 	if wait {
-		// TODO notify the user that we're waiting
+		_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "waiting for virtual instance to be ready...\n")
+
 		if err := rs.Wait.UntilVirtualInstanceActive(cmd.Context(), vID); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to wait for %s to be active: %v", vID, err)
 		}