diff --git a/pkg/cmd/install.go b/pkg/cmd/install.go
index 493673ef9..fc8e61940 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/install.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/install.go
@@ -769,6 +769,17 @@ func installCommand() *cli.Command {
 				logrus.Infof("\n  sudo ./%s reset\n", binName)
 				return ErrNothingElseToAdd
 			}
+
+			if channelRelease, err := release.GetChannelRelease(); err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("unable to read channel release data: %w", err)
+			} else if channelRelease != nil && channelRelease.Airgap && c.String("airgap-bundle") == "" && !c.Bool("no-prompt") {
+				logrus.Infof("You downloaded an air gap bundle but are performing an online installation.")
+				logrus.Infof("To do an air gap installation, pass the air gap bundle with --airgap-bundle.")
+				if !prompts.New().Confirm("Do you want to proceed with an online installation?", false) {
+					return ErrNothingElseToAdd
+				}
+			}
+
 			metrics.ReportApplyStarted(c)
 			logrus.Debugf("configuring network manager")
 			if err := configureNetworkManager(c, provider); err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/join.go b/pkg/cmd/join.go
index 80a26490f..0b317e22a 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/join.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/join.go
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/replicatedhq/embedded-cluster/pkg/metrics"
 	"github.com/replicatedhq/embedded-cluster/pkg/netutils"
 	"github.com/replicatedhq/embedded-cluster/pkg/prompts"
+	"github.com/replicatedhq/embedded-cluster/pkg/release"
 	"github.com/replicatedhq/embedded-cluster/pkg/spinner"
 	"github.com/replicatedhq/embedded-cluster/pkg/versions"
 )
@@ -185,6 +186,16 @@ var joinCommand = &cli.Command{
 			return fmt.Errorf("usage: %s join <url> <token>", binName)
 		}
 
+		if channelRelease, err := release.GetChannelRelease(); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("unable to read channel release data: %w", err)
+		} else if channelRelease != nil && channelRelease.Airgap && c.String("airgap-bundle") == "" && !c.Bool("no-prompt") {
+			logrus.Infof("You downloaded an air gap bundle but are performing an online join.")
+			logrus.Infof("To do an air gap join, pass the air gap bundle with --airgap-bundle.")
+			if !prompts.New().Confirm("Do you want to proceed with an online join?", false) {
+				return ErrNothingElseToAdd
+			}
+		}
+
 		logrus.Debugf("fetching join token remotely")
 		jcmd, err := getJoinToken(c.Context, c.Args().Get(0), c.Args().Get(1))
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/restore.go b/pkg/cmd/restore.go
index 7dc0a623b..df8a568cd 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/restore.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/restore.go
@@ -959,6 +959,16 @@ func restoreCommand() *cli.Command {
 				return fmt.Errorf("unable to write runtime config: %w", err)
 			}
 
+			if channelRelease, err := release.GetChannelRelease(); err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("unable to read channel release data: %w", err)
+			} else if channelRelease != nil && channelRelease.Airgap && c.String("airgap-bundle") == "" && !c.Bool("no-prompt") {
+				logrus.Infof("You downloaded an air gap bundle but are performing an online restore.")
+				logrus.Infof("To do an air gap restore, pass the air gap bundle with --airgap-bundle.")
+				if !prompts.New().Confirm("Do you want to proceed with an online restore?", false) {
+					return ErrNothingElseToAdd
+				}
+			}
+
 			proxy, err := getProxySpecFromFlags(c)
 			if err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("unable to get proxy spec from flags: %w", err)
diff --git a/pkg/release/release.go b/pkg/release/release.go
index 8a770d7ba..2092bb9a7 100644
--- a/pkg/release/release.go
+++ b/pkg/release/release.go
@@ -155,6 +155,7 @@ type ChannelRelease struct {
 	ChannelID    string `yaml:"channelID"`
 	ChannelSlug  string `yaml:"channelSlug"`
 	AppSlug      string `yaml:"appSlug"`
+	Airgap       bool   `yaml:"airgap"`
 }
 
 // GetChannelRelease reads the embedded channel release object. If no channel release