diff --git a/src/node_object_wrap.h b/src/node_object_wrap.h
index 03c986689fd294..0002c25e054261 100644
--- a/src/node_object_wrap.h
+++ b/src/node_object_wrap.h
@@ -27,7 +27,12 @@
 
 namespace node {
 
-class ObjectWrap {
+// Legacy interface for tying C++ objects to JavaScript objects.
+// This is not intended to be used by new code, and userland alternatives
+// should be preferred.
+class NODE_DEPRECATED(
+    "Use userland alternatives such as node-addon-api or nan instead",
+    ObjectWrap) {
  public:
   ObjectWrap() {
     refs_ = 0;