diff --git a/src/cli/migrate_db.rs b/src/cli/migrate_db.rs
index 1d06b9a2..c80fc79b 100644
--- a/src/cli/migrate_db.rs
+++ b/src/cli/migrate_db.rs
@@ -79,6 +79,15 @@ pub(crate) async fn run(
 
     info!("Migrating from {current:?} to {target:?}");
 
+    if !services().globals.config.conduit_compat {
+        if let DbMigrationTarget::Conduit(_) = args.to {
+            return Err(Error::ConduitCompatDisabled);
+        }
+        if let DbVersion::Conduit(_) = current {
+            return Err(Error::ConduitCompatDisabled);
+        }
+    }
+
     if target == current {
         // No-op
     } else if target == latest {
diff --git a/src/error.rs b/src/error.rs
index 727a6cb6..33bd121b 100644
--- a/src/error.rs
+++ b/src/error.rs
@@ -97,6 +97,14 @@ pub(crate) enum MigrateDbCommand {
     #[error("output path is not valid unicode")]
     InvalidUnicodeOutPath,
 
+    #[error(
+        "conduit_compat config option must be enabled to migrate database to \
+         or from conduit. Note that you cannot currently enable \
+         conduit_compat on a database that was originally created in \
+         grapevine with it disabled."
+    )]
+    ConduitCompatDisabled,
+
     #[error(
         "migrating a database may lose data even if the migration is \
          successful. Because of this, it is very important to ensure you have \