diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7f723f8a..f6eaa30b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@
 `patch-package` lets app authors instantly make and keep fixes to npm
 dependencies. It's a vital band-aid for those of us living on the bleeding edge.
 
+_Note for module authors: it is not safe to publish an npm package that uses
+`patch-package` to patch a non-dev-dependency. This is because `patch-package` works by patching specific files in specific places within the `node_modules` folder, and currently cannot control the following factors:_
+- _When an end user installs your package, their `node_modules` dependency tree may have shifted things around._
+- _If the dependency you patched is also depended on by other packages (or directly by the end user), you might be causing unintended breaking changes._
+
 ```sh
 # fix a bug in one of your dependencies
 vim node_modules/some-package/brokenFile.js