diff --git a/src/commands/init.ts b/src/commands/init.ts
index 87f02ceb0..23e99cadd 100644
--- a/src/commands/init.ts
+++ b/src/commands/init.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-import { basename } from 'node:path';
+import { existsSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { basename, join } from 'node:path';
 import process from 'node:process';
 
 import { ApifyCommand } from '../lib/command-framework/apify-command.js';
@@ -163,6 +164,20 @@ export class InitCommand extends ApifyCommand<typeof InitCommand> {
 			await setLocalConfig(configToWrite, cwd);
 		}
 
+		const isPythonWithoutDockerfile =
+			project.type === ProjectLanguage.Python &&
+			!this.flags.dockerfile &&
+			!actorConfig.unwrapOr(undefined)?.config.dockerfile &&
+			!existsSync(join(cwd, '.actor', 'Dockerfile')) &&
+			!existsSync(join(cwd, 'Dockerfile'));
+
+		if (isPythonWithoutDockerfile) {
+			warning({
+				message:
+					'No Dockerfile found. Without one, the Apify platform builds the Actor with a Node.js base image. Add one at .actor/Dockerfile (e.g. FROM apify/actor-python) or pass --dockerfile.',
+			});
+		}
+
 		await setLocalEnv(cwd);
 
 		// Create prefilled INPUT.json file from the input schema prefills
diff --git a/test/local/commands/init.test.ts b/test/local/commands/init.test.ts
index 782ef874e..cac0d7e48 100644
--- a/test/local/commands/init.test.ts
+++ b/test/local/commands/init.test.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ import { KEY_VALUE_STORE_KEYS } from '@apify/consts';
 import { testRunCommand } from '../../../src/lib/command-framework/apify-command.js';
 import { EMPTY_LOCAL_CONFIG, LOCAL_CONFIG_PATH } from '../../../src/lib/consts.js';
 import { getLocalKeyValueStorePath } from '../../../src/lib/utils.js';
+import { useConsoleSpy } from '../../__setup__/hooks/useConsoleSpy.js';
 import { useTempPath } from '../../__setup__/hooks/useTempPath.js';
+import { resetCwdCaches } from '../../__setup__/reset-cwd-caches.js';
 
 const actName = 'init-my-actor';
 const { beforeAllCalls, afterAllCalls, joinPath } = useTempPath(actName, {
@@ -16,11 +18,14 @@ const { beforeAllCalls, afterAllCalls, joinPath } = useTempPath(actName, {
 	cwdParent: false,
 });
 
+const { logMessages } = useConsoleSpy();
+
 const { InitCommand } = await import('../../../src/commands/init.js');
 
 describe('apify init', () => {
 	beforeEach(async () => {
 		await beforeAllCalls();
+		resetCwdCaches();
 	});
 
 	afterEach(async () => {
@@ -120,4 +125,25 @@ describe('apify init', () => {
 		expect(config).toStrictEqual(Object.assign(EMPTY_LOCAL_CONFIG, { name: actName }));
 		expect(config.dockerfile).toBeUndefined();
 	});
+
+	it('warns when a Python project has no Dockerfile', async () => {
+		await mkdir(joinPath('my_actor'), { recursive: true });
+		writeFileSync(joinPath('my_actor', '__init__.py'), '');
+		writeFileSync(joinPath('my_actor', '__main__.py'), '');
+
+		await testRunCommand(InitCommand, { args_actorName: actName, flags_yes: true });
+
+		expect(logMessages.error.join('\n')).toMatch(/No Dockerfile found/);
+	});
+
+	it('does not warn when a Python project has a Dockerfile', async () => {
+		await mkdir(joinPath('my_actor'), { recursive: true });
+		writeFileSync(joinPath('my_actor', '__init__.py'), '');
+		writeFileSync(joinPath('my_actor', '__main__.py'), '');
+		writeFileSync(joinPath('Dockerfile'), 'FROM apify/actor-python');
+
+		await testRunCommand(InitCommand, { args_actorName: actName, flags_yes: true });
+
+		expect(logMessages.error.join('\n')).not.toMatch(/No Dockerfile found/);
+	});
 });