diff --git a/dace/frontend/python/parser.py b/dace/frontend/python/parser.py
index 991613a9ea..1b6817a7d0 100644
--- a/dace/frontend/python/parser.py
+++ b/dace/frontend/python/parser.py
@@ -240,6 +240,9 @@ def to_sdfg(self, *args, simplify=None, save=False, validate=False, use_cache=Fa
             warnings.warn("You are calling to_sdfg() on a dace program that "
                           "has set 'recompile' to False. "
                           "This may not be what you want.")
+        if self.autoopt == True:
+            warnings.warn("You are calling to_sdfg() on a dace program that "
+                          "has set `auto_optimize` to True. Automatic optimization will not be applied.")
 
         if use_cache:
             # Update global variables with current closure