diff --git a/rtdata/languages/default b/rtdata/languages/default
index 5f589b0f3..6af289209 100644
--- a/rtdata/languages/default
+++ b/rtdata/languages/default
@@ -1466,6 +1466,7 @@ TP_EXPOS_WHITEPOINT_LABEL;Raw White Points
 TP_FILMSIMULATION_LABEL;Film Simulation
 TP_FILMSIMULATION_STRENGTH;Strength
 TP_FILMSIMULATION_ZEROCLUTSFOUND;Set HaldCLUT directory in Preferences
+TP_FILMSIMULATION_SLOWPARSEDIR;The Film Simulation HaldCLUT folder you pointed RawTherapee to is taking too long to load. Reduce the number of files in that folder or point RawTherapee to an empty one instead.\n\nSee Preferences > Image Processing > Film Simulation
 TP_FLATFIELD_AUTOSELECT;Auto-selection
 TP_FLATFIELD_BLURRADIUS;Blur radius
 TP_FLATFIELD_BLURTYPE;Blur type
diff --git a/rtgui/filmsimulation.cc b/rtgui/filmsimulation.cc
index d20638fd2..b195cc238 100644
--- a/rtgui/filmsimulation.cc
+++ b/rtgui/filmsimulation.cc
@@ -12,24 +12,23 @@ using namespace rtengine::procparams;
 namespace
 {
 
-bool confirmToContinue (const std::chrono::system_clock::time_point& startedAt,
-                        std::chrono::system_clock::time_point& continuedAt)
+void notifySlowParseDir (const std::chrono::system_clock::time_point& startedAt)
 {
-    const auto now = std::chrono::system_clock::now ();
-    const auto searchingFor = std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::seconds> (now-continuedAt);
+    static bool alreadyNotified = false;
 
-    if (searchingFor >= std::chrono::seconds (5)) {
-
-        const auto message = Glib::ustring::compose ("Searching CLUT files for %1 seconds now...\nDo you wish to continue?", searchingFor.count ());
-
-        Gtk::MessageDialog dialog (message, false, Gtk::MESSAGE_QUESTION, Gtk::BUTTONS_YES_NO, true);
-        if (dialog.run () != Gtk::RESPONSE_YES) {
-            return false;
-        }
+    if (alreadyNotified) {
+        return;
     }
 
-    continuedAt = now;
-    return true;
+    const auto now = std::chrono::system_clock::now ();
+    if (now - startedAt < std::chrono::seconds (10)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    Gtk::MessageDialog dialog (M ("TP_FILMSIMULATION_SLOWPARSEDIR"), false, Gtk::MESSAGE_WARNING, Gtk::BUTTONS_OK, true);
+    dialog.run ();
+
+    alreadyNotified = true;
 }
 
 }
@@ -192,7 +191,6 @@ int ClutComboBox::parseDir (const Glib::ustring& path)
     }
 
     const auto startedAt = std::chrono::system_clock::now ();
-    auto continuedAt = startedAt;
 
     // Build menu of limited directory structure using breadth-first search
     using Dirs = std::vector<std::pair<Glib::ustring, Gtk::TreeModel::Row>>;
@@ -229,10 +227,7 @@ int ClutComboBox::parseDir (const Glib::ustring& path)
 
                 dirs.push_back (std::move (dir));
 
-                if (!confirmToContinue (startedAt, continuedAt)) {
-                    m_model->clear ();
-                    return 0;
-                }
+                notifySlowParseDir (startedAt);
             }
 
             currDirs.clear ();
@@ -283,10 +278,7 @@ int ClutComboBox::parseDir (const Glib::ustring& path)
 
             ++fileCount;
 
-            if (!confirmToContinue (startedAt, continuedAt)) {
-                m_model->clear ();
-                return 0;
-            }
+            notifySlowParseDir (startedAt);
         }
     }