diff --git a/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-run b/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-run
index 7b867a7c..47761495 100755
--- a/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-run
+++ b/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-run
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ def main():
                       help="Wait for the VM(s) to shutdown")
 
     parser.add_option ("--shutdown", action="store_true", dest="shutdown", default=False,
-                      help="Do 'xl shutdown' for the VM(s) (can be combined this with --all and --wait)")
+                      help="(deprecated) Do 'xl shutdown' for the VM(s) (can be combined this with --all and --wait)")
 
     parser.add_option ("--pause", action="store_true", dest="pause", default=False,
                       help="Do 'xl pause' for the VM(s) (can be combined this with --all and --wait)")
@@ -135,6 +135,9 @@ def main():
     if options.passio:
         options.verbose = False
 
+    if options.shutdown:
+        print >>sys.stderr, "WARNING: --shutdown is deprecated. Use qvm-shutdown instead."
+
     if (options.shutdown or options.pause or options.unpause):
         takes_cmd_argument = False
     else: