diff --git a/packages/core/src/constructors/internal.ts b/packages/core/src/constructors/internal.ts
index 4e0b3bcb..44a7e1fb 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/constructors/internal.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/constructors/internal.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ export async function createShikiInternal(options: HighlighterCoreOptions): Prom
     warnDeprecated('`loadWasm` option is deprecated. Use `engine: createOnigurumaEngine(loadWasm)` instead.')
   }
   if (!options.engine) {
-    throw new Error('`engine` option is required.')
+    warnDeprecated('`engine` option is required. Use `createOnigurumaEngine` or `createJavaScriptRegexEngine` to create an engine.')
   }
 
   const [