diff --git a/lib/iex/lib/iex/cli.ex b/lib/iex/lib/iex/cli.ex
index 704d15bc98e..a10ad53c2b3 100644
--- a/lib/iex/lib/iex/cli.ex
+++ b/lib/iex/lib/iex/cli.ex
@@ -53,6 +53,13 @@ defmodule IEx.CLI do
     if tty_works?() do
       :user_drv.start([:"tty_sl -c -e", tty_args()])
     else
+      if get_remsh(:init.get_plain_arguments()) do
+        IO.puts(
+          :stderr,
+          "warning: the --remsh option will be ignored because IEx is running on limited shell"
+        )
+      end
+
       :application.set_env(:stdlib, :shell_prompt_func, {__MODULE__, :prompt})
       :user.start()
       local_start()