diff --git a/docs/kittens/icat.rst b/docs/kittens/icat.rst
index 32a29ee3f..ae090eced 100644
--- a/docs/kittens/icat.rst
+++ b/docs/kittens/icat.rst
@@ -30,6 +30,20 @@ Then you can simply use ``icat image.png`` to view images.
     multiplexer has added support for it or not.
 
 
+.. note::
+
+   If you are trying to integrate icat into another program like a file
+   manager, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. icat works by
+   communicating over the TTY device, it both writes to and reads from the TTY.
+   So it is imperative that while it is running the host program does not do
+   any TTY I/O. And any key presses or other input from the user on the TTY
+   device will be discarded. At a minimum, you should use the
+   :option:`kitty +kitten icat --silent` and :option:`kitty +kitten icat --transfer-mode` flags. To be really robust
+   you should consider writing proper support for the
+   :doc:`../graphics-protocol` in the program instead.
+   Nowadays there are many libraries that have support for it.
+
+
 .. program:: kitty +kitten icat