diff --git a/.changeset/shy-spiders-remember.md b/.changeset/shy-spiders-remember.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..1d28f16e45f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/shy-spiders-remember.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@sveltejs/adapter-auto': patch
+---
+
+fix: better error message when using `read`
diff --git a/packages/adapter-auto/index.js b/packages/adapter-auto/index.js
index 14115c45b888..983f6a1fa66c 100644
--- a/packages/adapter-auto/index.js
+++ b/packages/adapter-auto/index.js
@@ -116,5 +116,12 @@ export default () => ({
 		builder.log.warn(
 			'Could not detect a supported production environment. See https://kit.svelte.dev/docs/adapters to learn how to configure your app to run on the platform of your choosing'
 		);
+	},
+	supports: {
+		read: () => {
+			throw new Error(
+				"The read function imported from $app/server only works in certain environments. Since you're using @sveltejs/adapter-auto, SvelteKit cannot determine whether it will work when your app is deployed. Please replace it with an adapter tailored to your target environment."
+			);
+		}
 	}
 });