diff --git a/src/cli/rustup_mode.rs b/src/cli/rustup_mode.rs
index 08ac9e0454..6a8075c91a 100644
--- a/src/cli/rustup_mode.rs
+++ b/src/cli/rustup_mode.rs
@@ -301,6 +301,36 @@ fn update_toolchain_value_parser(s: &str) -> Result<PartialToolchainDesc> {
     })
 }
 
+impl RustupSubcmd {
+    fn allow_auto_install(&self) -> bool {
+        match self {
+            // These subcommands execute or rely on the active toolchain, so auto-installing it when
+            // missing may be reasonable depending on the user's decision.
+            #[cfg(not(windows))]
+            RustupSubcmd::Man { .. } => true,
+            RustupSubcmd::Doc { .. } | RustupSubcmd::Run { .. } => true,
+
+            // These subcommands don't require the active toolchain, so auto-installing it should be
+            // disabled to avoid surprises.
+            RustupSubcmd::Check { .. }
+            | RustupSubcmd::Completions { .. }
+            | RustupSubcmd::Component { .. }
+            | RustupSubcmd::Default { .. }
+            | RustupSubcmd::DumpTestament
+            | RustupSubcmd::Install { .. }
+            | RustupSubcmd::Override { .. }
+            | RustupSubcmd::Self_ { .. }
+            | RustupSubcmd::Set { .. }
+            | RustupSubcmd::Show { .. }
+            | RustupSubcmd::Target { .. }
+            | RustupSubcmd::Toolchain { .. }
+            | RustupSubcmd::Uninstall { .. }
+            | RustupSubcmd::Update { .. }
+            | RustupSubcmd::Which { .. } => false,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Subcommand)]
 enum ShowSubcmd {
     /// Show the active toolchain
@@ -631,15 +661,20 @@ pub async fn main(
 
     update_console_filter(process, &console_filter, matches.quiet, matches.verbose);
 
-    let cfg = &mut Cfg::from_env(current_dir, matches.quiet, true, process)?;
-    cfg.toolchain_override = matches.plus_toolchain;
-
     let Some(subcmd) = matches.subcmd else {
         let help = Rustup::command().render_long_help();
         writeln!(process.stderr().lock(), "{}", help.ansi())?;
         return Ok(ExitCode::FAILURE);
     };
 
+    let cfg = &mut Cfg::from_env(
+        current_dir,
+        matches.quiet,
+        subcmd.allow_auto_install(),
+        process,
+    )?;
+    cfg.toolchain_override = matches.plus_toolchain;
+
     match subcmd {
         RustupSubcmd::DumpTestament => common::dump_testament(process),
         RustupSubcmd::Install { opts } => update(cfg, opts, true).await,
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index 42da8d1983..1659468332 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -142,10 +142,10 @@ impl<T> EnsureInstalled<T> {
 }
 
 impl<T: Display> EnsureInstalled<T> {
-    fn warn_auto_install(&self, process: &Process) {
+    fn warn_auto_install(&self, cfg: &Cfg<'_>) {
         // If we're already in a recursion, or we haven't just installed the active toolchain, then
         // don't print the warning.
-        let recursions = process.var("RUST_RECURSION_COUNT");
+        let recursions = cfg.process.var("RUST_RECURSION_COUNT");
         if recursions.is_ok_and(|it| it != "0") || !matches!(self.status, UpdateStatus::Installed) {
             return;
         }
@@ -154,6 +154,16 @@ impl<T: Display> EnsureInstalled<T> {
             "the missing active toolchain `{}` has been auto-installed",
             self.inner,
         );
+
+        if !cfg.allow_auto_install {
+            // NOTE: Special behavior for rustup v1.29
+            warn!(
+                "this is deprecated for most `rustup` commands and may not work in a future release"
+            );
+            warn!("see <https://github.com/rust-lang/rustup/issues/4836> for more info");
+            return;
+        }
+
         warn!("this might cause rustup commands to take longer time to finish than expected");
         info!("you may opt out with `RUSTUP_AUTO_INSTALL=0` or `rustup set auto-install disable`");
     }
@@ -423,10 +433,6 @@ impl<'a> Cfg<'a> {
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn should_auto_install(&self) -> Result<bool> {
-        if !self.allow_auto_install {
-            return Ok(false);
-        }
-
         if let Ok(mode) = self.process.var("RUSTUP_AUTO_INSTALL") {
             Ok(mode != "0")
         } else {
@@ -562,7 +568,7 @@ impl<'a> Cfg<'a> {
         match self.ensure_active_toolchain(true, false).await {
             Ok(r) => {
                 let (tc, source) = r;
-                tc.warn_auto_install(self.process);
+                tc.warn_auto_install(self);
                 Ok(Some((tc.inner, source)))
             }
             Err(e) => match e.downcast_ref::<RustupError>() {
@@ -768,7 +774,7 @@ impl<'a> Cfg<'a> {
                 let install_if_missing = self.should_auto_install()?;
                 let EnsureInstalled { inner: tc, status } =
                     Toolchain::from_local(tc, install_if_missing, self).await?;
-                EnsureInstalled::new(tc.name(), status).warn_auto_install(self.process);
+                EnsureInstalled::new(tc.name(), status).warn_auto_install(self);
                 Ok((tc, source))
             }
             None => {
diff --git a/tests/suite/cli_misc.rs b/tests/suite/cli_misc.rs
index b27a0834d3..8d021588a9 100644
--- a/tests/suite/cli_misc.rs
+++ b/tests/suite/cli_misc.rs
@@ -1795,3 +1795,27 @@ info: you may opt out with `RUSTUP_AUTO_INSTALL=0` or `rustup set auto-install d
 "#]])
         .is_ok();
 }
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn warn_auto_install_on_rustup_deprecated() {
+    let cx = CliTestContext::new(Scenario::SimpleV2).await;
+    cx.config
+        .expect_with_env(
+            ["rustup", "component", "list"],
+            [("RUSTUP_TOOLCHAIN", "stable"), ("RUSTUP_AUTO_INSTALL", "1")],
+        )
+        .await
+        .with_stdout(snapbox::str![[r#"
+...
+rustc-[HOST_TUPLE] (installed)
+...
+"#]])
+        .with_stderr(snapbox::str![[r#"
+...
+warn: the missing active toolchain `stable-[HOST_TUPLE]` has been auto-installed
+warn: this is deprecated for most `rustup` commands and may not work in a future release
+warn: see <https://github.com/rust-lang/rustup/issues/4836> for more info
+
+"#]])
+        .is_ok();
+}