diff --git a/lib/rubygems/command.rb b/lib/rubygems/command.rb
index 53bb609ae0..27aaf68db0 100644
--- a/lib/rubygems/command.rb
+++ b/lib/rubygems/command.rb
@@ -323,6 +323,10 @@ class Gem::Command
     elsif @when_invoked
       @when_invoked.call options
     else
+      if Gem.paths.auto_user_install && !options[:install_dir] && !options[:user_install]
+        self.ui.say "Defaulting to user installation because default GEM_HOME (#{Gem.default_dir}) is not writable."
+      end
+
       execute
     end
   ensure
diff --git a/lib/rubygems/path_support.rb b/lib/rubygems/path_support.rb
index 6ce66494ca..343670a801 100644
--- a/lib/rubygems/path_support.rb
+++ b/lib/rubygems/path_support.rb
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ class Gem::PathSupport
   # Directory with spec cache
   attr_reader :spec_cache_dir # :nodoc:
 
+  ##
+  # Whether or `Gem.paths.home` defaulted to a user install.
+  attr_reader :auto_user_install
+
   ##
   #
   # Constructor. Takes a single argument which is to be treated like a
@@ -38,9 +42,8 @@ class Gem::PathSupport
       @home = normalize_home_dir(Gem.default_dir)
     else
       # If `GEM_HOME` is not set AND we can't use `Gem.default_dir`,
-      # default to a user installation and print a message about this.
-      puts "Defaulting to user installation because default GEM_HOME (#{Gem.default_dir}) is not writable."
-
+      # default to a user installation and set `@auto_user_install`.
+      @auto_user_install = true
       @home = normalize_home_dir(Gem.user_dir)
     end