diff --git a/pkg/parser/parser.go b/pkg/parser/parser.go
index 45cddfb..df2259a 100644
--- a/pkg/parser/parser.go
+++ b/pkg/parser/parser.go
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ func (p *Parser) createCheat(path string, s *parseState, block codeBlock, cheatB
 		p.index.Errors = append(p.index.Errors, ParseError{
 			File:    path,
 			Line:    cheatLine,
-			Message: "cheat contains raw ANSI escape sequences which will be sanitized",
+			Message: "cheat contains raw ANSI escape sequences which may cause parsing errors. Please remove them manually.",
 		})
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/parser/parser_ansi_test.go b/pkg/parser/parser_ansi_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..324abac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/parser/parser_ansi_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+package parser
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestANSIWarningMessage(t *testing.T) {
+	p := NewParser()
+	content := []byte("# \x1b[31mCheat\x1b[0m\n```bash\necho 1\n```\n")
+
+	p.parseLines("test.md", content)
+
+	// Create cheats so createCheat runs
+	_ = p.index.Cheats
+
+	if len(p.index.Errors) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 1 error, got %d", len(p.index.Errors))
+	}
+
+	errMessage := p.index.Errors[0].Message
+	if !strings.Contains(errMessage, "Please remove them manually") {
+		t.Errorf("expected warning to mention manual removal, got %q", errMessage)
+	}
+}