diff --git a/.changeset/dirty-scissors-fail.md b/.changeset/dirty-scissors-fail.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..0ec7f4cdec91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/dirty-scissors-fail.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@astrojs/image': minor
+---
+
+added a warning if the image was GIF
diff --git a/packages/integrations/image/src/vendor/squoosh/impl.ts b/packages/integrations/image/src/vendor/squoosh/impl.ts
index fa50c0fd96d3..3d01141d3e76 100644
--- a/packages/integrations/image/src/vendor/squoosh/impl.ts
+++ b/packages/integrations/image/src/vendor/squoosh/impl.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ export async function decodeBuffer(
   const firstChunkString = Array.from(firstChunk)
     .map((v) => String.fromCodePoint(v))
     .join('')
+	// TODO (future PR): support more formats
+	if (firstChunkString.includes('GIF')) {
+		throw Error(`GIF images are not supported, please install the @astrojs/image/sharp plugin`)
+	}
   const key = Object.entries(supportedFormats).find(([, { detectors }]) =>
     detectors.some((detector) => detector.exec(firstChunkString))
   )?.[0] as EncoderKey | undefined