diff --git a/python/uv/__init__.py b/python/uv/__init__.py
index 5ad0fde7c..5f18152af 100644
--- a/python/uv/__init__.py
+++ b/python/uv/__init__.py
@@ -28,3 +28,21 @@ if os.environ.get("UV_PREVIEW"):
     ]
 else:
     __all__ = ["find_uv_bin"]
+
+
+def __getattr__(attr_name: str) -> object:
+    if attr_name in {
+        "build_sdist",
+        "build_wheel",
+        "build_editable",
+        "get_requires_for_build_sdist",
+        "get_requires_for_build_wheel",
+        "prepare_metadata_for_build_wheel",
+        "get_requires_for_build_editable",
+        "prepare_metadata_for_build_editable",
+    }:
+        err = f"Using `uv.{attr_name}` is not allowed. The uv build backend requires preview mode to be enabled, e.g., via the `UV_PREVIEW=1` environment variable."
+        raise AttributeError(err)
+
+    err = f"module 'uv' has no attribute '{attr_name}'"
+    raise AttributeError(err)