diff --git a/cli/src/ui.rs b/cli/src/ui.rs
index 21945db687a..060f0f8bfe7 100644
--- a/cli/src/ui.rs
+++ b/cli/src/ui.rs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ use std::str::FromStr;
 use std::thread::JoinHandle;
 use std::{env, fmt, io, mem};
 
+use indoc::indoc;
 use minus::Pager as MinusPager;
 use tracing::instrument;
 
@@ -87,7 +88,32 @@ impl BuiltinPager {
             pager,
             dynamic_pager_thread: std::thread::spawn(move || {
                 // This thread handles the actual paging.
-                minus::dynamic_paging(pager_handle).unwrap();
+                // TODO(#4182): handle error better
+                minus::dynamic_paging(pager_handle)
+                    .inspect_err(|err| {
+                        eprintln!("\n");
+                        if let minus::error::MinusError::Setup(
+                            minus::error::SetupError::InvalidTerminal,
+                        ) = err
+                        {
+                            eprintln!(indoc! {r#"
+                                jj ERROR: jj's builtin pager is incompatible with this terminal
+
+                                This is known to happen with `mintty`, the default Git Bash terminal on Windows.
+                                See also https://github.com/martinvonz/jj/issues/4182.
+
+                                POSSIBLE WORKAROUNDS:
+                                - Use `jj --no-pager`
+                                - Use a different terminal (e.g. Windows Terminal or the Command Prompt)
+                                - Configure a different pager, see https://martinvonz.github.io/jj/latest/windows/#pagination for Git Bash on Windows
+                                - Use `winpty jj ...` on Windows."#
+                                })
+                        } else {
+                            eprintln!("jj ERROR: built-in pager failed to start, will panic.")
+                        }
+                        eprintln!();
+                    })
+                    .unwrap();
             }),
         }
     }