diff --git a/Documentation/FAQ.md b/Documentation/FAQ.md
index 766ed0c4..c39b44d6 100644
--- a/Documentation/FAQ.md
+++ b/Documentation/FAQ.md
@@ -143,6 +143,8 @@ this does not look like a fresh clone.
 [...]
 Please operate on a fresh clone instead.  If you want to proceed
 anyway, use --force.
+This may delete your reflog, stash, remotes, and other things
+you may not expect, so do read the --force docs first!
 ```
 If you then added `--force`, well, you were warned.
 
diff --git a/git-filter-repo b/git-filter-repo
index fb3de42e..bd5159a2 100755
--- a/git-filter-repo
+++ b/git-filter-repo
@@ -3414,7 +3414,9 @@ class RepoFilter(object):
           "this does not look like a fresh clone.\n"
           "  (%s)\n%s"
           "Please operate on a fresh clone instead.  If you want to proceed\n"
-          "anyway, use --force.") % (reason, msg))
+          "anyway, use --force.\n"
+          "This may delete your reflog, stash, remotes, and other things\n"
+          "you may not expect, so do read the --force docs first!") % (reason, msg))
 
     # Avoid letting people running with weird setups and overwriting GIT_DIR
     # elsewhere