diff --git a/code/datums/emotes.dm b/code/datums/emotes.dm
index 38da2627287..d6f82c3b6dc 100644
--- a/code/datums/emotes.dm
+++ b/code/datums/emotes.dm
@@ -82,6 +82,9 @@
 	if(!intentional)
 		return TRUE
 	if(user.emotes_used && user.emotes_used[src] + cooldown > world.time)
+		var/datum/emote/default_emote = /datum/emote
+		if(cooldown > initial(default_emote.cooldown)) // only worry about longer-than-normal emotes
+			to_chat(user, "<span class='danger'>You must wait another [DisplayTimeText(user.emotes_used[src] - world.time + cooldown)] before using that emote.</span>")
 		return FALSE
 	if(!user.emotes_used)
 		user.emotes_used = list()