diff --git a/locales/index.d.ts b/locales/index.d.ts
index e8c85cdd72..5cbe918183 100644
--- a/locales/index.d.ts
+++ b/locales/index.d.ts
@@ -13037,6 +13037,10 @@ export interface Locale extends ILocale {
      * Choose which instances should be displayed in the bubble.
      */
     "bubbleTimelineDescription": string;
+    /**
+     * Note: the bubble timeline is hidden by default, and must be enabled via roles.
+     */
+    "bubbleTimelineMustBeEnabled": string;
 }
 declare const locales: {
     [lang: string]: Locale;
diff --git a/packages/frontend/src/pages/admin/moderation.vue b/packages/frontend/src/pages/admin/moderation.vue
index 7861bca1ef..2213890d14 100644
--- a/packages/frontend/src/pages/admin/moderation.vue
+++ b/packages/frontend/src/pages/admin/moderation.vue
@@ -31,9 +31,14 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
 					<template #label>{{ i18n.ts.bubbleTimeline }}</template>
 
 					<div class="_gaps">
+						<div v-if="!$i.policies.btlAvailable">
+							<i class="ti ti-alert-triangle"></i> {{ i18n.ts.bubbleTimelineMustBeEnabled }}
+						</div>
+
 						<MkTextarea v-model="bubbleTimeline">
 							<template #caption>{{ i18n.ts.bubbleTimelineDescription }}</template>
 						</MkTextarea>
+
 						<MkButton primary @click="save_bubbleTimeline">{{ i18n.ts.save }}</MkButton>
 					</div>
 				</MkFolder>
@@ -178,6 +183,7 @@ import MkButton from '@/components/MkButton.vue';
 import FormLink from '@/components/form/link.vue';
 import MkFolder from '@/components/MkFolder.vue';
 import SkPatternTest from '@/components/SkPatternTest.vue';
+import { $i } from '@/i';
 
 const enableRegistration = ref<boolean>(false);
 const emailRequiredForSignup = ref<boolean>(false);
diff --git a/sharkey-locales/en-US.yml b/sharkey-locales/en-US.yml
index c1cbf4717c..af60fb2a61 100644
--- a/sharkey-locales/en-US.yml
+++ b/sharkey-locales/en-US.yml
@@ -562,3 +562,4 @@ wordMuteTestNoMatch: "Text does not match any patterns."
 
 bubbleTimeline: "Bubble timeline"
 bubbleTimelineDescription: "Choose which instances should be displayed in the bubble."
+bubbleTimelineMustBeEnabled: "Note: the bubble timeline is hidden by default, and must be enabled via roles."