diff --git a/anki-editor.el b/anki-editor.el
index 9a3cfca..87de52a 100644
--- a/anki-editor.el
+++ b/anki-editor.el
@@ -982,7 +982,10 @@ Return a list of cons of (FIELD-NAME . FIELD-CONTENT)."
   "A minor mode for making Anki cards with Org."
   :lighter " anki-editor"
   :keymap (make-sparse-keymap)
-  (if anki-editor-mode (anki-editor-setup-minor-mode)
+  (unless (equal major-mode 'org-mode)
+    (user-error "anki-editor only works in org-mode buffers"))
+  (if anki-editor-mode
+      (anki-editor-setup-minor-mode)
     (anki-editor-teardown-minor-mode)))
 
 (defun anki-editor-setup-minor-mode ()