diff --git a/runtime/fmt_errors.rs b/runtime/fmt_errors.rs
index bdeafaf723d1b5..49cf9d6ea7251b 100644
--- a/runtime/fmt_errors.rs
+++ b/runtime/fmt_errors.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 use std::borrow::Cow;
 use std::fmt::Write as _;
 use std::sync::LazyLock;
+use std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool;
+use std::sync::atomic::Ordering;
 
 use color_print::cformat;
 use color_print::cstr;
@@ -11,6 +13,14 @@ use deno_core::error::format_frame;
 use deno_core::url::Url;
 use deno_terminal::colors;
 
+/// Set to `true` when user code assigns to `Object.prototype.__proto__` while
+/// the accessor is disabled (the default, unless `--unstable-unsafe-proto`).
+/// The assignment itself stays a silent no-op so fragile packages keep working
+/// (see denoland/deno#34730 / #34772, where throwing broke Playwright); this
+/// flag only lets the uncaught-error formatter nudge toward the escape hatch.
+/// Written by `op_proto_set_attempted`, read by `get_suggestions_for_terminal_errors`.
+pub static PROTO_SET_ATTEMPTED: AtomicBool = AtomicBool::new(false);
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 struct ErrorReference<'a> {
   from: &'a JsError,
@@ -352,6 +362,23 @@ fn format_js_error_inner(
 }
 
 fn get_suggestions_for_terminal_errors(e: &JsError) -> Vec<FixSuggestion<'_>> {
+  let mut suggestions = get_message_suggestions(e);
+  // If the program assigned to the (disabled by default) `__proto__` accessor
+  // and then crashed, the two are frequently related, so point at the escape
+  // hatch. This is intentionally a soft nudge appended to any uncaught error
+  // rather than a hard failure at assignment time, which broke real packages.
+  if PROTO_SET_ATTEMPTED.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
+    suggestions.push(FixSuggestion::info(cstr!(
+      "This program assigned to <u>Object.prototype.__proto__</>, which Deno disables by default."
+    )));
+    suggestions.push(FixSuggestion::hint(cstr!(
+      "If this caused the error, run again with <u>--unstable-unsafe-proto</> to restore it."
+    )));
+  }
+  suggestions
+}
+
+fn get_message_suggestions(e: &JsError) -> Vec<FixSuggestion<'_>> {
   if let Some(msg) = &e.message {
     if msg.contains("module is not defined")
       || msg.contains("exports is not defined")
diff --git a/runtime/js/99_main.js b/runtime/js/99_main.js
index 411db875a231a9..221be0460f1bc3 100644
--- a/runtime/js/99_main.js
+++ b/runtime/js/99_main.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {
   op_internal_log,
   op_main_module,
   op_ppid,
+  op_proto_set_attempted,
   op_set_format_exception_callback,
   op_snapshot_options,
   op_worker_close,
@@ -39,7 +40,9 @@ const {
   ObjectDefineProperty,
   ObjectGetOwnPropertyDescriptors,
   ObjectHasOwn,
+  ObjectIsExtensible,
   ObjectKeys,
+  ObjectPrototype,
   ObjectPrototypeIsPrototypeOf,
   ObjectSetPrototypeOf,
   PromisePrototypeThen,
@@ -718,6 +721,56 @@ const executionModes = {
   jupyter: 8,
 };
 
+let protoSetRecorded = false;
+
+// By default Deno disables the `Object.prototype.__proto__` accessor for
+// security reasons (it enables prototype pollution), see
+// https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-get-object.prototype.__proto__
+//
+// Historically this was done with `delete Object.prototype.__proto__`, which
+// makes `obj.__proto__` reads return `undefined` and writes silently create a
+// useless own property. Making the accessor *throw* instead would surface those
+// silent bugs, but it broke real packages such as Playwright (see
+// denoland/deno#34730 / #34772), so we keep the silent behavior.
+//
+// Instead of deleting we install an accessor that reproduces the deleted
+// semantics exactly (read -> `undefined`, write -> own data property, prototype
+// unchanged) but additionally records the first write. When the program later
+// crashes, the uncaught-error formatter (runtime/fmt_errors.rs) reads that flag
+// and suggests `--unstable-unsafe-proto`. The `__proto__` key in object
+// literals (e.g. `{ __proto__: null }`) is separate syntax and is unaffected.
+function disableProtoAccessor() {
+  ObjectDefineProperty(ObjectPrototype, "__proto__", {
+    __proto__: null,
+    configurable: true,
+    enumerable: false,
+    // Distinct getter/setter function objects: the native accessor uses
+    // separate functions and WPT asserts accessor get/set are unique.
+    get: function __proto__() {
+      return undefined;
+    },
+    set: function __proto__(value) {
+      if (!protoSetRecorded) {
+        protoSetRecorded = true;
+        op_proto_set_attempted();
+      }
+      // Reproduce the previous `delete` behavior: a bare assignment created a
+      // normal own data property. Skip non-extensible receivers, where that
+      // assignment was a silent no-op in sloppy mode (and a throw in strict
+      // mode); keeping it silent here matches the "stay silent" goal above.
+      if (ObjectIsExtensible(this)) {
+        ObjectDefineProperty(this, "__proto__", {
+          __proto__: null,
+          value,
+          writable: true,
+          enumerable: true,
+          configurable: true,
+        });
+      }
+    },
+  });
+}
+
 function bootstrapMainRuntime(runtimeOptions, warmup = false) {
   if (!warmup) {
     if (hasBootstrapped) {
@@ -910,9 +963,7 @@ function bootstrapMainRuntime(runtimeOptions, warmup = false) {
     }
 
     if (!ArrayPrototypeIncludes(unstableFeatures, unstableIds.unsafeProto)) {
-      // Removes the `__proto__` for security reasons.
-      // https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-get-object.prototype.__proto__
-      delete Object.prototype.__proto__;
+      disableProtoAccessor();
     }
 
     // Setup `Deno` global - we're actually overriding already existing global
@@ -1042,9 +1093,7 @@ function bootstrapWorkerRuntime(
     delete finalDenoNs.mainModule;
 
     if (!ArrayPrototypeIncludes(unstableFeatures, unstableIds.unsafeProto)) {
-      // Removes the `__proto__` for security reasons.
-      // https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-get-object.prototype.__proto__
-      delete Object.prototype.__proto__;
+      disableProtoAccessor();
     }
 
     // Setup `Deno` global - we're actually overriding already existing global
diff --git a/runtime/ops/bootstrap.rs b/runtime/ops/bootstrap.rs
index cb8fb060d55d5e..2e5f79cfddd3a6 100644
--- a/runtime/ops/bootstrap.rs
+++ b/runtime/ops/bootstrap.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ deno_core::extension!(
     op_bootstrap_stderr_no_color,
     op_bootstrap_unstable_args,
     op_bootstrap_is_from_unconfigured_runtime,
+    op_proto_set_attempted,
     op_snapshot_options,
   ],
   options = {
@@ -162,3 +163,13 @@ pub fn op_bootstrap_stderr_no_color(_state: &mut OpState) -> bool {
 pub fn op_bootstrap_is_from_unconfigured_runtime(state: &mut OpState) -> bool {
   state.borrow::<IsFromUnconfiguredRuntime>().0
 }
+
+// Called (at most once) from the disabled `Object.prototype.__proto__` setter
+// in 99_main.js when user code assigns to `__proto__`. Records a process-global
+// flag so that, if the program later crashes, the uncaught-error formatter can
+// suggest `--unstable-unsafe-proto`. See `crate::fmt_errors::PROTO_SET_ATTEMPTED`.
+#[op2(fast)]
+pub fn op_proto_set_attempted() {
+  crate::fmt_errors::PROTO_SET_ATTEMPTED
+    .store(true, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed);
+}
diff --git a/tests/registry/npm/@denotest/unsafe-proto-bin/1.0.0/cli.mjs b/tests/registry/npm/@denotest/unsafe-proto-bin/1.0.0/cli.mjs
index 80a36ddf77edf9..0446abf2a64cdf 100644
--- a/tests/registry/npm/@denotest/unsafe-proto-bin/1.0.0/cli.mjs
+++ b/tests/registry/npm/@denotest/unsafe-proto-bin/1.0.0/cli.mjs
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env node
 
-const hasUnsafeProto = Object.hasOwn(Object.prototype, "__proto__");
+// Detect by behavior, not presence: Deno keeps the `__proto__` accessor
+// installed even when disabled (so it can capture assignments), so reading it
+// is what actually distinguishes the modes — disabled returns `undefined`.
+const hasUnsafeProto = ({}).__proto__ !== undefined;
 if (hasUnsafeProto) {
   console.log("unsafe proto enabled");
 } else {
diff --git a/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto/main.js b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto/main.js
index eb95c55a030058..c1f0bfed6ab741 100644
--- a/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto/main.js
+++ b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto/main.js
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-console.log(Object.hasOwn(Object.prototype, "__proto__"));
+// Disabled by default: the accessor stays installed (so writes can be
+// captured) but reads return `undefined`, so this prints `false`.
+console.log(({}).__proto__ !== undefined);
 
 new Worker(import.meta.resolve("./worker.js"), {
   type: "module",
diff --git a/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto/worker.js b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto/worker.js
index b22bc8713988f6..8e394246d20fe9 100644
--- a/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto/worker.js
+++ b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto/worker.js
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-console.log(Object.hasOwn(Object.prototype, "__proto__"));
+console.log(({}).__proto__ !== undefined);
 close();
diff --git a/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_flag/main.js b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_flag/main.js
index eb95c55a030058..86a79788017173 100644
--- a/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_flag/main.js
+++ b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_flag/main.js
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-console.log(Object.hasOwn(Object.prototype, "__proto__"));
+// With --unstable-unsafe-proto the native accessor is restored, so reading
+// `__proto__` returns the prototype and this prints `true`.
+console.log(({}).__proto__ !== undefined);
 
 new Worker(import.meta.resolve("./worker.js"), {
   type: "module",
diff --git a/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_flag/worker.js b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_flag/worker.js
index b22bc8713988f6..8e394246d20fe9 100644
--- a/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_flag/worker.js
+++ b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_flag/worker.js
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-console.log(Object.hasOwn(Object.prototype, "__proto__"));
+console.log(({}).__proto__ !== undefined);
 close();
diff --git a/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_suggestion/__test__.jsonc b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_suggestion/__test__.jsonc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..0a2dad5e2fdba8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_suggestion/__test__.jsonc
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+{
+  "tests": {
+    "suggests_flag_after_proto_set": {
+      "args": "run set_and_throw.js",
+      "exitCode": 1,
+      "output": "set_and_throw.out"
+    },
+    "no_suggestion_without_proto_set": {
+      "args": "run throw_only.js",
+      "exitCode": 1,
+      "output": "throw_only.out"
+    },
+    "no_suggestion_with_unsafe_proto_flag": {
+      "args": "run --unstable-unsafe-proto set_and_throw.js",
+      "exitCode": 1,
+      "output": "set_and_throw_unsafe.out"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_suggestion/set_and_throw.js b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_suggestion/set_and_throw.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..6d259d9ccc158c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_suggestion/set_and_throw.js
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+// Assigning to `__proto__` is a silent no-op while the accessor is disabled
+// (the default). Deno records that it happened so that, if the program then
+// crashes, the uncaught-error formatter can suggest `--unstable-unsafe-proto`.
+const obj = {};
+obj.__proto__ = { polluted: true };
+
+throw new Error("boom");
diff --git a/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_suggestion/set_and_throw.out b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_suggestion/set_and_throw.out
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..f4fc3c0d5a4b33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_suggestion/set_and_throw.out
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+error: Uncaught (in promise) Error: boom
+throw new Error("boom");
+      ^
+    at [WILDCARD]set_and_throw.js:7:7
+
+    info: This program assigned to Object.prototype.__proto__, which Deno disables by default.
+    hint: If this caused the error, run again with --unstable-unsafe-proto to restore it.
diff --git a/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_suggestion/set_and_throw_unsafe.out b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_suggestion/set_and_throw_unsafe.out
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..c9052d1169f2d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_suggestion/set_and_throw_unsafe.out
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+error: Uncaught (in promise) Error: boom
+throw new Error("boom");
+      ^
+    at [WILDCARD]set_and_throw.js:7:7
diff --git a/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_suggestion/throw_only.js b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_suggestion/throw_only.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..c5d1175d7618ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_suggestion/throw_only.js
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+// This program never touches `__proto__`, so the crash must NOT carry the
+// `--unstable-unsafe-proto` suggestion.
+throw new Error("boom");
diff --git a/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_suggestion/throw_only.out b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_suggestion/throw_only.out
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..ce5b7832029bae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specs/run/unsafe_proto_suggestion/throw_only.out
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+error: Uncaught (in promise) Error: boom
+throw new Error("boom");
+      ^
+    at [WILDCARD]throw_only.js:3:7