diff --git a/parcels/__init__.py b/parcels/__init__.py
index c452c9ad9..015a135b5 100644
--- a/parcels/__init__.py
+++ b/parcels/__init__.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 __version__ = version
 
+import warnings as _warnings
+
 from parcels.application_kernels import *
 from parcels.field import *
 from parcels.fieldset import *
@@ -11,3 +13,9 @@
 from parcels.particlefile import *
 from parcels.particleset import *
 from parcels.tools import *
+
+_warnings.warn(
+    "This is an alpha version of Parcels v4. The API is not stable and may change without deprecation warnings.",
+    UserWarning,
+    stacklevel=2,
+)