Index: wp-admin/link-add.php
===================================================================
--- wp-admin/link-add.php	(revision 22833)
+++ wp-admin/link-add.php	(working copy)
@@ -9,9 +9,23 @@
 /** Load WordPress Administration Bootstrap */
 require_once('./admin.php');
 
-if ( ! current_user_can('manage_links') )
-	wp_die(__('You do not have sufficient permissions to add links to this site.'));
+add_filter( 'pre_option_link_manager_enabled', '__return_true', 100 );
+$really_can_manage_links = current_user_can( 'manage_links' );
+remove_filter( 'pre_option_link_manager_enabled', '__return_true', 100 );
 
+if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_links' ) ) {
+	if ( $really_can_manage_links ) {
+		if ( current_user_can( 'install_plugins' ) )
+			$link = network_admin_url( 'plugin-install.php?tab=search&s=Link+Manager' );
+		else
+			$link = 'http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/link-manager/';
+
+		wp_die( sprintf( __( 'If you are looking to use the link manager, please install the <a href="%s">Link Manager</a> plugin.' ), $link ) );
+	}
+
+	wp_die( __( 'You do not have sufficient permissions to add links to this site.' ) );
+}
+
 $title = __('Add New Link');
 $parent_file = 'link-manager.php';
 
Index: wp-admin/link.php
===================================================================
--- wp-admin/link.php	(revision 22833)
+++ wp-admin/link.php	(working copy)
@@ -12,11 +12,25 @@
 /** Load WordPress Administration Bootstrap */
 require_once ('admin.php');
 
+add_filter( 'pre_option_link_manager_enabled', '__return_true', 100 );
+$really_can_manage_links = current_user_can( 'manage_links' );
+remove_filter( 'pre_option_link_manager_enabled', '__return_true', 100 );
+
+if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_links' ) ) {
+	if ( $really_can_manage_links ) {
+		if ( current_user_can( 'install_plugins' ) )
+			$link = network_admin_url( 'plugin-install.php?tab=search&amp;s=Link+Manager' );
+		else
+			$link = 'http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/link-manager/';
+
+		wp_die( sprintf( __( 'If you are looking to use the link manager, please install the <a href="%s">Link Manager</a> plugin.' ), $link ) );
+	}
+
+	wp_die( __( 'You do not have sufficient permissions to edit the links for this site.' ) );
+}
+
 wp_reset_vars(array('action', 'cat_id', 'linkurl', 'name', 'image', 'description', 'visible', 'target', 'category', 'link_id', 'submit', 'order_by', 'links_show_cat_id', 'rating', 'rel', 'notes', 'linkcheck[]'));
 
-if ( ! current_user_can('manage_links') )
-	wp_die( __('You do not have sufficient permissions to edit the links for this site.') );
-
 if ( !empty($_POST['deletebookmarks']) )
 	$action = 'deletebookmarks';
 if ( !empty($_POST['move']) )
Index: wp-admin/link-manager.php
===================================================================
--- wp-admin/link-manager.php	(revision 22833)
+++ wp-admin/link-manager.php	(working copy)
@@ -8,8 +8,23 @@
 
 /** Load WordPress Administration Bootstrap */
 require_once ('admin.php');
-if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_links' ) )
+
+add_filter( 'pre_option_link_manager_enabled', '__return_true', 100 );
+$really_can_manage_links = current_user_can( 'manage_links' );
+remove_filter( 'pre_option_link_manager_enabled', '__return_true', 100 );
+
+if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_links' ) ) {
+	if ( $really_can_manage_links ) {
+		if ( current_user_can( 'install_plugins' ) )
+			$link = network_admin_url( 'plugin-install.php?tab=search&amp;s=Link+Manager' );
+		else
+			$link = 'http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/link-manager/';
+
+		wp_die( sprintf( __( 'If you are looking to use the link manager, please install the <a href="%s">Link Manager</a> plugin.' ), $link ) );
+	}
+
 	wp_die( __( 'You do not have sufficient permissions to edit the links for this site.' ) );
+}
 
 $wp_list_table = _get_list_table('WP_Links_List_Table');