diff --git a/src/SMAPI/Program.cs b/src/SMAPI/Program.cs
index 24bf0d59..4f20ce37 100644
--- a/src/SMAPI/Program.cs
+++ b/src/SMAPI/Program.cs
@@ -156,7 +156,10 @@ namespace StardewModdingAPI
             // validate game version
             if (Constants.GameVersion.IsOlderThan(Constants.MinimumGameVersion))
             {
-                this.Monitor.Log($"Oops! You're running Stardew Valley {Constants.GameVersion}, but the oldest supported version is {Constants.MinimumGameVersion}. Please update your game before using SMAPI.", LogLevel.Error);
+                if (Constants.GameVersion.IsBetween("1.2.30", "1.2.33") && Constants.ApiVersion.IsBetween("2.6-beta", "2.6")) // TODO: remove once SMAPI 2.6 is out of beta
+                    this.Monitor.Log($"Oops! You're running Stardew Valley {Constants.GameVersion}. Make sure you install SMAPI 2.5.5 instead (SMAPI 2.6 beta is only for Stardew Valley 1.3 beta).", LogLevel.Error);
+                else
+                    this.Monitor.Log($"Oops! You're running Stardew Valley {Constants.GameVersion}, but the oldest supported version is {Constants.MinimumGameVersion}. Please update your game before using SMAPI.", LogLevel.Error);
                 this.PressAnyKeyToExit();
                 return;
             }