diff --git a/sc2.py b/sc2.py
index da290af..7136e56 100644
--- a/sc2.py
+++ b/sc2.py
@@ -11,11 +11,12 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 
 # ---------- optional deps ---------- #
+PYPERCLIP_WARNING: str | None = None
 try:
     import pyperclip  # type: ignore
 except ImportError:
     pyperclip = None
-    print(
+    PYPERCLIP_WARNING = (
         "Note: Clipboard functionality ('pyperclip') is not available. Install it with 'uv add pyperclip'."
     )
 
@@ -208,6 +209,9 @@ def main() -> None:
     )
     ns = ap.parse_args()
 
+    if PYPERCLIP_WARNING and not ns.write:
+        print(PYPERCLIP_WARNING)
+
     if not ns.tests:
         EXCLUDED_DIRS.add("tests")