diff --git a/internal/command/arguments/init.go b/internal/command/arguments/init.go
index 6b2cb008d0..a340ac5b7c 100644
--- a/internal/command/arguments/init.go
+++ b/internal/command/arguments/init.go
@@ -83,6 +83,13 @@ type Init struct {
 	// CreateDefaultWorkspace indicates whether the default workspace should be created by
 	// Terraform when initializing a state store for the first time.
 	CreateDefaultWorkspace bool
+
+	// SafeInitWithPluggableStateStore indicates whether the user has opted into the process of downloading and approving
+	// a new provider binary to use for pluggable state storage.
+	// When false and `init` detects that a provider for PSS needs to be downloaded, `init` will return early and prompt the user to re-run with `-safe init`.
+	// When true and `init` detects that a provider for PSS needs to be downloaded then the user will experience a new UX.
+	// Details of the new UX depending on whether Terraform is being run in automation or not.
+	SafeInitWithPluggableStateStore bool
 }
 
 // ParseInit processes CLI arguments, returning an Init value and errors.
@@ -117,6 +124,7 @@ func ParseInit(args []string, experimentsEnabled bool) (*Init, tfdiags.Diagnosti
 	cmdFlags.Var(&init.BackendConfig, "backend-config", "")
 	cmdFlags.Var(&init.PluginPath, "plugin-dir", "plugin directory")
 	cmdFlags.BoolVar(&init.CreateDefaultWorkspace, "create-default-workspace", true, "when -input=false, use this flag to block creation of the default workspace")
+	cmdFlags.BoolVar(&init.SafeInitWithPluggableStateStore, "safe-init", false, `Enable the "safe init" workflow when downloading a provider binary for use with pluggable state storage.`)
 
 	// Used for enabling experimental code that's invoked before configuration is parsed.
 	cmdFlags.BoolVar(&init.EnablePssExperiment, "enable-pluggable-state-storage-experiment", false, "Enable the pluggable state storage experiment")
@@ -158,6 +166,15 @@ func ParseInit(args []string, experimentsEnabled bool) (*Init, tfdiags.Diagnosti
 				"Terraform cannot use the -create-default-workspace flag (or TF_SKIP_CREATE_DEFAULT_WORKSPACE environment variable) unless experiments are enabled.",
 			))
 		}
+		if init.SafeInitWithPluggableStateStore {
+			// Can only be set to false by using the flag
+			// and we cannot identify if -create-default-workspace=true is set explicitly.
+			diags = diags.Append(tfdiags.Sourceless(
+				tfdiags.Error,
+				"Cannot use -safe-init flag without experiments enabled",
+				"Terraform cannot use the -safe-init flag unless experiments are enabled.",
+			))
+		}
 	} else {
 		// Errors using flags despite experiments being enabled.
 		if !init.CreateDefaultWorkspace && !init.EnablePssExperiment {
@@ -167,6 +184,38 @@ func ParseInit(args []string, experimentsEnabled bool) (*Init, tfdiags.Diagnosti
 				"Terraform cannot use the -create-default-workspace=false flag (or TF_SKIP_CREATE_DEFAULT_WORKSPACE environment variable) unless you also supply the -enable-pluggable-state-storage-experiment flag (or set the TF_ENABLE_PLUGGABLE_STATE_STORAGE environment variable).",
 			))
 		}
+		if init.SafeInitWithPluggableStateStore && !init.EnablePssExperiment {
+			diags = diags.Append(tfdiags.Sourceless(
+				tfdiags.Error,
+				"Cannot use -safe-init flag unless the pluggable state storage experiment is enabled",
+				"Terraform cannot use the -safe-init flag unless you also supply the -enable-pluggable-state-storage-experiment flag (or set the TF_ENABLE_PLUGGABLE_STATE_STORAGE environment variable).",
+			))
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Manage all flag interactions with -safe-init
+	if init.SafeInitWithPluggableStateStore {
+		if !init.Backend {
+			diags = diags.Append(tfdiags.Sourceless(
+				tfdiags.Error,
+				"The -safe-init and -backend=false options are mutually-exclusive",
+				"Terraform cannot use the -safe-init flag to influence backend initialization if backend initialization is due to be skipped.",
+			))
+		}
+		if len(init.PluginPath) > 0 {
+			diags = diags.Append(tfdiags.Sourceless(
+				tfdiags.Error,
+				"The -safe-init and -plugin-dir options are mutually-exclusive",
+				"Providers sourced through -plugin-dir have already been vetted by the user, so -safe-init is unnecessary. Please re-run the command without the -safe-init flag.",
+			))
+		}
+		if init.Lockfile == "readonly" {
+			diags = diags.Append(tfdiags.Sourceless(
+				tfdiags.Error,
+				`The -safe-init and -lockfile=readonly options are mutually-exclusive`,
+				"The -safe-init flag is intended to help when first downloading or upgrading a provider to use for state storage, and in those scenarios the lockfile cannot be treated as read-only.",
+			))
+		}
 	}
 
 	if init.MigrateState && init.Json {
diff --git a/internal/command/arguments/init_test.go b/internal/command/arguments/init_test.go
index 53205da52a..9e2aef375d 100644
--- a/internal/command/arguments/init_test.go
+++ b/internal/command/arguments/init_test.go
@@ -40,19 +40,22 @@ func TestParseInit_basicValid(t *testing.T) {
 					FlagName: "-backend-config",
 					Items:    &flagNameValue,
 				},
-				Vars:                   &Vars{},
-				InputEnabled:           true,
-				CompactWarnings:        false,
-				TargetFlags:            nil,
-				CreateDefaultWorkspace: true,
+				Vars:                            &Vars{},
+				InputEnabled:                    true,
+				CompactWarnings:                 false,
+				TargetFlags:                     nil,
+				CreateDefaultWorkspace:          true,
+				SafeInitWithPluggableStateStore: false,
 			},
 		},
 		"setting multiple options": {
-			[]string{"-backend=false", "-force-copy=true",
+			[]string{
+				"-backend=false", "-force-copy=true",
 				"-from-module=./main-dir", "-json", "-get=false",
 				"-lock=false", "-lock-timeout=10s", "-reconfigure=true",
 				"-upgrade=true", "-lockfile=readonly", "-compact-warnings=true",
-				"-ignore-remote-version=true", "-test-directory=./test-dir"},
+				"-ignore-remote-version=true", "-test-directory=./test-dir",
+			},
 			&Init{
 				FromModule:          "./main-dir",
 				Lockfile:            "readonly",
@@ -156,6 +159,21 @@ func TestParseInit_invalid(t *testing.T) {
 			wantErr:      "The -migrate-state and -reconfigure options are mutually-exclusive.",
 			wantViewType: ViewHuman,
 		},
+		"with both -safe-init and -backend=false options set": {
+			args:         []string{"-safe-init", "-backend=false"},
+			wantErr:      "The -safe-init and -backend=false options are mutually-exclusive",
+			wantViewType: ViewHuman,
+		},
+		"with both -safe-init and -plugin-dir options set": {
+			args:         []string{"-safe-init", "-plugin-dir=./my/path/to/dir"},
+			wantErr:      "The -safe-init and -plugin-dir options are mutually-exclusive",
+			wantViewType: ViewHuman,
+		},
+		"with both -safe-init and -lockfile=readonly options set": {
+			args:         []string{"-safe-init", `-lockfile=readonly`},
+			wantErr:      "The -safe-init and -lockfile=readonly options are mutually-exclusive",
+			wantViewType: ViewHuman,
+		},
 	}
 
 	for name, tc := range testCases {
@@ -218,6 +236,16 @@ func TestParseInit_experimentalFlags(t *testing.T) {
 			experimentsEnabled: true,
 			wantErr:            "Cannot use -create-default-workspace=false flag unless the pluggable state storage experiment is enabled",
 		},
+		"error: -safe-init and experiments are disabled": {
+			args:               []string{"-safe-init"},
+			experimentsEnabled: false,
+			wantErr:            "Cannot use -safe-init flag without experiments enabled: Terraform cannot use the -safe-init flag unless experiments are enabled.",
+		},
+		"error: -safe-init used without -enable-pluggable-state-storage-experiment": {
+			args:               []string{"-safe-init"},
+			experimentsEnabled: true,
+			wantErr:            "Cannot use -safe-init flag unless the pluggable state storage experiment is enabled",
+		},
 	}
 
 	for name, tc := range testCases {