diff --git a/main-command/src/main/scala/sbt/internal/client/NetworkClient.scala b/main-command/src/main/scala/sbt/internal/client/NetworkClient.scala
index d9514a323..3ae676893 100644
--- a/main-command/src/main/scala/sbt/internal/client/NetworkClient.scala
+++ b/main-command/src/main/scala/sbt/internal/client/NetworkClient.scala
@@ -330,6 +330,18 @@ class NetworkClient(
 
         val cmd = arguments.sbtLaunchJar match {
           case Some(lj) =>
+            if (log) {
+              val sbtScript = if (Properties.isWin) "sbt.bat" else "sbt"
+              console.appendLog(Level.Warn, s"server is started using sbt-launch jar directly")
+              console.appendLog(
+                Level.Warn,
+                "this is not the recommended way: .sbtopts and .jvmopts files are not loaded and SBT_OPTS is ignored"
+              )
+              console.appendLog(
+                Level.Warn,
+                s"either upgrade $sbtScript to its latest version or make sure it is accessible from $$PATH, and run 'sbt bspConfig'"
+              )
+            }
             List("java") ++ arguments.sbtArguments ++
               List("-jar", lj, DashDashDetachStdio, DashDashServer)
           case _ =>