diff --git a/installer/install.bat.in b/installer/install.bat.in
index 924f2cd40de..8f729e758d7 100644
--- a/installer/install.bat.in
+++ b/installer/install.bat.in
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ echo    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-US/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist
 echo.
 echo See %INSTRUCTIONS% for more details.
 echo.
+echo "For the best user experience we suggest enlarging or maximizing this window now."
 pause
 
 @rem ---------------------------- check Python version ---------------
diff --git a/installer/install.sh.in b/installer/install.sh.in
index 74aa0928734..0063c0ebbfc 100755
--- a/installer/install.sh.in
+++ b/installer/install.sh.in
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ done
 if [ -z "$PYTHON" ]; then
     echo "A suitable Python interpreter could not be found"
     echo "Please install Python $MINIMUM_PYTHON_VERSION or higher (maximum $MAXIMUM_PYTHON_VERSION) before running this script. See instructions at $INSTRUCTIONS for help."
+    echo "For the best user experience we suggest enlarging or maximizing this window now."
     read -p "Press any key to exit"
     exit -1
 fi
diff --git a/installer/lib/messages.py b/installer/lib/messages.py
index dfc09dd94a7..196c0e1eb02 100644
--- a/installer/lib/messages.py
+++ b/installer/lib/messages.py
@@ -293,6 +293,8 @@ def introduction() -> None:
                 "3. Create initial configuration files.",
                 "",
                 "[i]At any point you may interrupt this program and resume later.",
+                "",
+                "[b]For the best user experience, please enlarge or maximize this window",
             ),
         )
     )
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/install/model_install.py b/invokeai/frontend/install/model_install.py
index 265c456e3ad..a602c715bc6 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/install/model_install.py
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/install/model_install.py
@@ -965,13 +965,15 @@ def main():
             logger.error(
                 "Insufficient vertical space for the interface. Please make your window taller and try again"
             )
-        elif str(e).startswith("addwstr"):
+        input('Press any key to continue...')
+    except Exception as e:
+        if str(e).startswith("addwstr"):
             logger.error(
                 "Insufficient horizontal space for the interface. Please make your window wider and try again."
             )
-    except Exception as e:
-        print(f'An exception has occurred: {str(e)} Details:')
-        print(traceback.format_exc(), file=sys.stderr)
+        else:
+            print(f'An exception has occurred: {str(e)} Details:')
+            print(traceback.format_exc(), file=sys.stderr)
         input('Press any key to continue...')
     
 
diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/install/widgets.py b/invokeai/frontend/install/widgets.py
index 14167d4ee0f..6f717bf6258 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/install/widgets.py
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/install/widgets.py
@@ -42,6 +42,18 @@ def set_terminal_size(columns: int, lines: int, launch_command: str=None):
     elif OS in ["Darwin", "Linux"]:
         _set_terminal_size_unix(width,height)
 
+    # check whether it worked....
+    ts = get_terminal_size()
+    pause = False
+    if ts.columns < columns:
+        print('\033[1mThis window is too narrow for the user interface. Please make it wider.\033[0m')
+        pause = True
+    if ts.lines < lines:
+        print('\033[1mThis window is too short for the user interface. Please make it taller.\033[0m')
+        pause = True
+    if pause:
+        input('Press any key to continue..')
+
 def _set_terminal_size_powershell(width: int, height: int):
     script=f'''
 $pshost = get-host