diff --git a/crates/ruff/src/args.rs b/crates/ruff/src/args.rs
index 2e4817836e..160d6a19b8 100644
--- a/crates/ruff/src/args.rs
+++ b/crates/ruff/src/args.rs
@@ -538,8 +538,11 @@ pub struct FormatCommand {
     #[arg(long, help_heading = "Miscellaneous", alias = "exit-non-zero-on-fix")]
     pub exit_non_zero_on_format: bool,
 
-    /// Output serialization format for violations.
+    /// Output serialization format for violations, when used with `--check`.
     /// The default serialization format is "full".
+    ///
+    /// Note that this option is currently only respected in preview mode. A warning will be emitted
+    /// if this flag is used on stable.
     #[arg(long, value_enum, env = "RUFF_OUTPUT_FORMAT")]
     pub output_format: Option<OutputFormat>,
 }
diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index 13aee26da9..8d3297fbca 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -728,10 +728,10 @@ Options:
           Enable preview mode; enables unstable formatting. Use `--no-preview`
           to disable
       --output-format <OUTPUT_FORMAT>
-          Output serialization format for violations. The default serialization
-          format is "full" [env: RUFF_OUTPUT_FORMAT=] [possible values:
-          concise, full, json, json-lines, junit, grouped, github, gitlab,
-          pylint, rdjson, azure, sarif]
+          Output serialization format for violations, when used with `--check`.
+          The default serialization format is "full" [env: RUFF_OUTPUT_FORMAT=]
+          [possible values: concise, full, json, json-lines, junit, grouped,
+          github, gitlab, pylint, rdjson, azure, sarif]
   -h, --help
           Print help (see more with '--help')