diff --git a/crates/uv/src/commands/python/install.rs b/crates/uv/src/commands/python/install.rs
index 2626f950a6d63..37d6a67776d50 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/commands/python/install.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/commands/python/install.rs
@@ -166,6 +166,16 @@ pub(crate) async fn install(
 ) -> Result<ExitStatus> {
     let start = std::time::Instant::now();
 
+    // TODO(zanieb): We should consider marking the Python installation as the default when
+    // `--default` is used. It's not clear how this overlaps with a global Python pin, but I'd be
+    // surprised if `uv python find` returned the "newest" Python version rather than the one I just
+    // installed with the `--default` flag.
+    if default && !preview.is_enabled() {
+        warn_user!(
+            "The `--default` option is experimental and may change without warning. Pass `--preview` to disable this warning"
+        );
+    }
+
     if upgrade && preview.is_disabled() {
         warn_user!(
             "`uv python upgrade` is experimental and may change without warning. Pass `--preview` to disable this warning"
@@ -214,6 +224,8 @@ pub(crate) async fn install(
             .map(PythonVersionFile::into_versions)
             .unwrap_or_else(|| {
                 // If no version file is found and no requests were made
+                // TODO(zanieb): We should consider differentiating between a global Python version
+                // file here, allowing a request from there to enable `is_default_install`.
                 is_default_install = true;
                 vec![if reinstall {
                     // On bare `--reinstall`, reinstall all Python versions
@@ -443,10 +455,10 @@ pub(crate) async fn install(
         }
     }
 
-    let bin_dir = if !matches!(bin, Some(false)) {
-        Some(python_executable_dir()?)
-    } else {
+    let bin_dir = if matches!(bin, Some(false)) {
         None
+    } else {
+        Some(python_executable_dir()?)
     };
 
     let installations: Vec<_> = downloaded.iter().chain(satisfied.iter().copied()).collect();
@@ -727,7 +739,10 @@ fn create_bin_links(
     errors: &mut Vec<(InstallErrorKind, PythonInstallationKey, Error)>,
     preview: PreviewMode,
 ) {
-    let targets = if (default || (is_default_install && !reinstall))
+    // TODO(zanieb): We want more feedback on the `is_default_install` behavior before stabilizing
+    // it. In particular, it may be confusing because it does not apply when versions are loaded
+    // from a `.python-version` file.
+    let targets = if (default || (is_default_install && preview.is_enabled()))
         && first_request.matches_installation(installation)
     {
         vec![
diff --git a/crates/uv/tests/it/python_install.rs b/crates/uv/tests/it/python_install.rs
index 1712478643002..f194208b43f4e 100644
--- a/crates/uv/tests/it/python_install.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/tests/it/python_install.rs
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ fn python_install() {
 
     ----- stderr -----
     Installed Python 3.13.5 in [TIME]
-     + cpython-3.13.5-[PLATFORM] (python, python3, python3.13)
+     + cpython-3.13.5-[PLATFORM] (python3.13)
     ");
 
     let bin_python = context
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ fn python_install() {
     ----- stderr -----
     Searching for Python versions matching: Python 3.13
     Uninstalled Python 3.13.5 in [TIME]
-     - cpython-3.13.5-[PLATFORM] (python, python3, python3.13)
+     - cpython-3.13.5-[PLATFORM] (python3.13)
     ");
 
     // The executable should be removed
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ fn python_install_force() {
 
     ----- stderr -----
     Installed Python 3.13.5 in [TIME]
-     + cpython-3.13.5-[PLATFORM] (python, python3, python3.13)
+     + cpython-3.13.5-[PLATFORM] (python3.13)
     ");
 
     let bin_python = context
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ fn python_install_force() {
 
     ----- stderr -----
     Installed Python 3.13.5 in [TIME]
-     + cpython-3.13.5-[PLATFORM] (python, python3, python3.13)
+     + cpython-3.13.5-[PLATFORM] (python3.13)
     ");
 
     // The executable should still be present in the bin directory
@@ -647,7 +647,7 @@ fn python_install_preview() {
 
     ----- stderr -----
     Installed Python 3.13.5 in [TIME]
-     ~ cpython-3.13.5-[PLATFORM] (python3.13)
+     ~ cpython-3.13.5-[PLATFORM] (python, python3, python3.13)
     ");
 
     // The executable should still be present in the bin directory
@@ -1185,6 +1185,7 @@ fn python_install_default() {
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
+    warning: The `--default` option is experimental and may change without warning. Pass `--preview` to disable this warning
     Installed Python 3.13.5 in [TIME]
      + cpython-3.13.5-[PLATFORM] (python, python3)
     ");
@@ -1218,6 +1219,7 @@ fn python_install_default() {
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
+    warning: The `--default` option is experimental and may change without warning. Pass `--preview` to disable this warning
     Installed Python 3.13.5 in [TIME]
      + cpython-3.13.5-[PLATFORM] (python, python3, python3.13)
     ");
@@ -1296,14 +1298,15 @@ fn python_install_default() {
     bin_python_default.assert(predicate::path::missing());
 
     // Install multiple versions, with the `--default` flag
-    uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.python_install().arg("3.12").arg("3.13").arg("--default"), @r###"
+    uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.python_install().arg("3.12").arg("3.13").arg("--default"), @r"
     success: false
     exit_code: 2
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
+    warning: The `--default` option is experimental and may change without warning. Pass `--preview` to disable this warning
     error: The `--default` flag cannot be used with multiple targets
-    "###);
+    ");
 
     // Install 3.12 as a new default
     uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.python_install().arg("3.12").arg("--default"), @r"
@@ -1312,6 +1315,7 @@ fn python_install_default() {
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
+    warning: The `--default` option is experimental and may change without warning. Pass `--preview` to disable this warning
     Installed Python 3.12.11 in [TIME]
      + cpython-3.12.11-[PLATFORM] (python, python3, python3.12)
     ");
@@ -2075,7 +2079,7 @@ fn python_install_cached() {
 
     ----- stderr -----
     Installed Python 3.13.5 in [TIME]
-     + cpython-3.13.5-[PLATFORM] (python, python3, python3.13)
+     + cpython-3.13.5-[PLATFORM] (python3.13)
     ");
 
     let bin_python = context
@@ -2105,7 +2109,7 @@ fn python_install_cached() {
     ----- stderr -----
     Searching for Python versions matching: Python 3.13
     Uninstalled Python 3.13.5 in [TIME]
-     - cpython-3.13.5-[PLATFORM] (python, python3, python3.13)
+     - cpython-3.13.5-[PLATFORM] (python3.13)
     ");
 
     // The cached archive can be installed offline
@@ -2119,7 +2123,7 @@ fn python_install_cached() {
 
     ----- stderr -----
     Installed Python 3.13.5 in [TIME]
-     + cpython-3.13.5-[PLATFORM] (python, python3, python3.13)
+     + cpython-3.13.5-[PLATFORM] (python3.13)
     ");
 
     // 3.12 isn't cached, so it can't be installed