diff --git a/ice-9/optargs.scm b/ice-9/optargs.scm
index 9824104a3..33304085e 100644
--- a/ice-9/optargs.scm
+++ b/ice-9/optargs.scm
@@ -199,6 +199,9 @@
 ;; "#&optional" instead of "#:optional"
 
 (read-hash-extend #\& (lambda (c port)
+			(display 
+			 "WARNING: `#&' is deprecated, use `#:' instead\n"
+			 (current-error-port))
 			(case (read port)
 			  ((optional) #:optional)
 			  ((key) #:key)