diff --git a/cmd/tailscale/netcheck.go b/cmd/tailscale/netcheck.go
index 158e71c1a..5d64495cc 100644
--- a/cmd/tailscale/netcheck.go
+++ b/cmd/tailscale/netcheck.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"log"
 	"os"
 	"sort"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/peterbourgon/ff/v2/ffcli"
@@ -53,6 +54,10 @@ func runNetcheck(ctx context.Context, args []string) error {
 		c.Logf = logger.Discard
 	}
 
+	if strings.HasPrefix(netcheckArgs.format, "json") {
+		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "# Warning: this JSON format is not yet considered a stable interface")
+	}
+
 	dm := derpmap.Prod()
 	for {
 		t0 := time.Now()