diff --git a/repo2docker/buildpacks/base.py b/repo2docker/buildpacks/base.py
index 9691559f..a595fed5 100644
--- a/repo2docker/buildpacks/base.py
+++ b/repo2docker/buildpacks/base.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import os
 import re
 import logging
 import docker
+import sys
 
 TEMPLATE = r"""
 FROM buildpack-deps:artful
@@ -144,6 +145,9 @@ class BuildPack:
     def __init__(self):
         self.log = logging.getLogger('repo2docker')
         self.appendix = ''
+        if sys.platform.startswith('win'):
+            self.log.warning("Windows environment detected. Note that Windows "
+                             "support is experimental in repo2docker.")
 
     def get_packages(self):
         """